The Mexican government has announced the creation of Olinia, the first national manufacturer of electric vehicles designed by Mexican engineers. This ambitious project aims to revolutionize urban mobility by providing accessible, sustainable, and safe transportation solutions for millions of citizens.
Three Types of Electric Vehicles
Roberto Capuano Tripp, head of the Sustainable Development Project for the State of Mexico, Hidalgo, and Mexico City, outlined the main objective: producing three types of electric vehicles based on a multipurpose platform:
– Personal Mobility: Targeted at young people, mothers, and motorcycle users, offering a safer and more economical alternative.
– Neighborhood Mobility: Designed to replace motorcycle taxis, providing greater safety, comfort, and lower operating costs.
– Last Mile Deliveries: Focused on the growing demand for online commerce, emphasizing efficiency and low cost.
Capuano emphasized that the images presented during the conference were illustrative, as the car’s design will be one of the first tasks for the project team.
Affordable Pricing
The project proposes a production chain based on collaboration between the government and private companies, focusing on national design and regionalizing assemblers to reduce logistics costs. Depending on the model, Olinia vehicles will be priced between 90,000 and 150,000 pesos. The first car is expected to debut at the World Cup opening on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium. This pricing positions Olinia as a direct competitor to foreign models like the Chinese BYD Dolphin Mini.
Project Support and Goals
The project is backed by the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation, with participation from the National Polytechnic Institute and the National Technological Institute of Mexico. These institutions have recruited top specialists in electric and automotive mobility. An initial allocation of 25 million pesos has been made for the project.
President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted that Olinia aims to address the need for safe transportation while boosting the national automotive industry through the production of Mexican components. She emphasized that Olinia will offer a safe, electric option ideal for urban travel.
Sustainability and Safety
“Motorcycles are a popular mobility alternative in many cities but also very risky. Traffic accidents associated with their use have increased considerably. This small car must be safe, electric, and capable of connecting to any socket, with mostly Mexican components,” Sheinbaum explained.
The project aligns with the European Union’s sustainability goals, such as the gradual elimination of internal combustion engines by 2035.
Source: El Economista
