Olinia: Mexican Electric Car Startup Unveils Affordable Models

During a recent press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo introduced Olinia, an ambitious new automotive project. This initiative, backed by the current government, aims to establish a Mexican assembly company for mini electric vehicles.

Roberto Capuano Tripp, who is leading the Sustainable Development Project of the State of Mexico, Hidalgo, and Mexico City, explained that the project's goal is to facilitate citizen mobility and reduce pollution.

The initiative, announced by the former director of Metrobús in Mexico City, has three main objectives: to provide personal mobility solutions, offer alternative neighborhood mobility, and aid in merchandise deliveries.

Olinia plans to develop three different car models, priced between 90 and 150 thousand pesos. These models will be specifically designed to meet the mobility objectives outlined above. The project aims to foster technological transfer between academia, government, and the productive sector to initiate production.

The National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) and the National Technological Institute of Mexico have been chosen to design the units. Rosaura Ruiz Gutierrez, Secretary of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation, emphasized the project's goal to facilitate technological transfer to kickstart production.

President Sheinbaum Pardo noted that while Mexican electric cars already exist, most of their components are imported. Olinia, however, will be an assembler, with multiple plants across the country, and aims to gradually increase the use of national components.

The ultimate goal is to launch the three models by the end of the term, with backing from a public and private investment company. The first model is expected to be ready in time for the 2026 World Cup, which will be partially hosted by Mexico.