By Eliane Portillo

European carmakers see Mexico as a strategic point for exports. Several European companies have seen Mexico as part of a strategy that will allow them to reach the South American market and expand their sales in Europe and the United States.

Such is the case of Fiat-Chrysler, which has already begun the construction of the new Fiat plant in Derramadero, Coahuila. It is expected that the plant should be finished mid-year and start operations in next January, announced the Governor of the entity. As soon as the purchase of the Opel brand to General Motors is confirmed, Fiat-Chrysler will take decisions on the construction of new plants. Mexico represents an option for three main reasons: local strengthening of supply and supply chain; having an one assembly plant and two engine plants, in addition the plant in process of construction is an advantage; and the exchange rate of the peso against the dollar and the euro favors this type of investment, as noted Sergio Marchionne, Chairman of Fiat and Chrysler groups.

BMW, the largest manufacturer of luxury cars, has given priority to the supply of spare parts, and already established a regional office currently working with 30 suppliers of automotive parts in the country to export them to plants both in the United States and Germany.

This strategy has allowed the company to increase sales, so it currently plans to build its first local plant.

Audi, Volkswagen luxury car brand, is also assessing the location for a new manufacturing plant in North America (as well as the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee), reported in recent days the executive director of Audi, Rupert Stadler to the Handelsblatt newspaper.

For the German company, Mexico represents advantages as a manufacturing country, but the decision will be taken once the sales of Audi in the United States attain 150,000 units, according to statements by the executive.