Introduction
In the face of global circumstances, the automotive industry must maintain a regional vision that strengthens North America, according to Raúl Lizarriturri Martínez, President of the Querétaro Automotive Cluster.
Querétaro Automotive Summit 2025
During the inauguration of the Querétaro Automotive Summit 2025, a business meeting organized by the cluster, Lizarriturri emphasized the importance of fostering a resilient ecosystem facing the challenges that the industry encounters globally.
“We must remain steadfast in a vision of productive regional integration that strengthens North America as a more competitive and resilient automotive ecosystem facing global challenges,” he stated.
Summit Focus
Through the summit, which takes place from July 15 to 17, participants will analyze the regional trade context, the impact of new technologies, the need to adjust business models, and emerging sustainability regulations.
Impact
The automotive industry in North America is facing pressures and tariff impacts that have already started to reduce Mexican exports in the sector, with a 6.3% decline in the first five months of the year while national production grew less than 1%, explained Daniel Hernández Camacho, Director of the Querétaro Automotive Cluster.
“At the beginning of the year, there were upbeat expectations for North American production. However, the approach of new tariffs and political trade pressures has generated impacts. (…) Here in Querétaro, we also face these challenges, but we want to view them positively and understand that there are opportunities; the sector continues to grow, investments keep arriving,” he declared.
The local automotive industry also faces challenges, yet highlighted that investment attraction continues. He mentioned that in 2024, $900 million were captured through 31 investment projects for the automotive sector, representing 7,400 jobs. These investments are not only focused on manufacturing but also include references in design, engineering, and development.
The industry must also be aware of China’s growth in the automotive sector, positioning itself as one of the leading vehicle producers.
Industry Challenges
Lizarriturri outlined clear challenges for the sector, including a lack of a developed and strong battery supply chain and access to semiconductors in the North American region. At a national level, he added the need to strengthen clean energy generation and adapt to the new labor reality in the country, which could represent one of the most profound changes in the last 100 years.
Human Capital
Moreover, the increasing demand for human capital is one of the challenges facing the industry, especially considering the future need for specialized engineers in battery development, software, and robotics related to automation.
Education and Skills
During a forum on human capital related to the automotive event, Diana Pérez Mejía, Rector of the Universidad Politécnica de Querétaro (UPQ), emphasized the relevance of updating technical skills among educators due to rapid technological advancements. She also highlighted the importance of strengthening soft skills.
David Pineda Deom, Director of the Continental Research and Development Center in Querétaro, mentioned that talent competition is global. He shared that the main reason for employee turnover last year was collaborators moving to other countries, so he advocated for strategic planning based on a global perspective.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main message from Raúl Lizarriturri? Maintain a regional vision in the automotive industry to strengthen North America.
- What are the main topics discussed at the Querétaro Automotive Summit 2025? Regional trade context, new technologies’ impact, business model adjustments, and sustainability regulations.
- What challenges is the Querétaro automotive industry facing? Tariff pressures, lack of a strong battery supply chain, and adapting to new labor realities.
- What is the importance of human capital in the automotive sector? Increasing demand for specialized engineers in battery development, software, and automation-related robotics.
- What were the key points from the human capital forum? Updating technical skills among educators and strengthening soft skills.
