As the automotive industry undergoes a global transformation to electrification, many companies—from global brands to local companies to newly-formed startups—are looking to take advantage of opportunities along a new value chain.
For the past year, the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan (WDI) has been working with partners in the state of Chihuahua to cement the state’s leadership position in electric mobility (e-mobility) through a project entitled Chihuahua Charging Forward. WDI’s Energy and Mobility team is working to identify and share opportunities related to the EV value chain with companies, economic development actors, and other players in the state—and also to highlight the innovative work happening at companies in the state.
As part of the multi-faceted project, WDI developed two case studies of companies in Chihuahua that are pivoting their businesses to take advantage of such opportunities. The case studies highlight two such companies, AMN Solutions and Panel Solar. The businesses highlighted are working in the areas of charging infrastructure, electrical harnesses and batteries. The cases examine why they are pursuing these specific strategies, internal and external factors contributing to their success, as well as lessons learned.
WDI presented these case studies alongside leadership from the companies, during a session at an E-Mobility Forum in Chihuahua, Mexico. Organized in collaboration with WDI’s partners Secretaria de Innovacion y Desarrollo Economico (SIDE) and Frente Norte, the event served as a capstone for the Chihuahua Charging Forward project, highlighting key accomplishments—which included hosting events and knowledge exchanges, generating and sharing new research, and building connections and seeding new collaborations between Chihuahua and Michigan. The event brought together leaders from industry, government, academia and the local innovation ecosystem focused on how Mexico and Chihuahua can capitalize on the EV opportunity.
The day-long conference included presentations and panel discussions with corporate, policy, and economic development experts from the U.S. and Mexico. Speakers included Foxconn and Siemens representatives, as well as leaders from the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, Sostenibilidad Global and the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College, among others.
