Mérida, Yucatán — Days after the official launch of Olinia, Mexico’s government-backed electric vehicle, controversy has resurfaced over a nearly 6 million peso contract awarded to a telecommunications company with no known experience in the automotive industry.
Rocketel S.A.P.I. de C.V., which operates mobile phone services under the brand Mi Móvil, received a contract worth approximately 5.9 million pesos during the early stages of the Olinia project, according to documents published by national media outlets. The company’s tax address is in Mérida, Yucatán.
The contract was awarded through a restricted invitation process rather than an open public tender, raising questions about the selection criteria for one of the federal administration’s flagship technology initiatives.
Mexico’s Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (Secihti) has stated that Rocketel was hired for conceptualization, institutional coordination, graphic identity, preliminary technical documentation, and outreach strategies. The vehicle’s technological development and engineering remain under the responsibility of participating academic institutions, including the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) and the National Technological Institute of Mexico (TecNM).
Critics have questioned why a company historically focused on telecommunications was chosen for a key phase of the project, especially when firms specializing in industrial design, automotive manufacturing, and technology development could have competed. Social media users and analysts have also noted that Rocketel’s registered address in Mérida corresponds to administrative offices with no visible connection to automotive research or industrial facilities, though no official evidence of irregularities has emerged.
The controversy comes amid a lack of publicly available technical details about the vehicle. With production set to begin in less than a year, essential information on safety tests, real-world range, maintenance costs, spare parts availability, manufacturing capacity, and operational performance of the announced models remains undisclosed.
Automotive industry experts warn that the information gap could hinder Olinia’s commercial acceptance. Although the project promises electric vehicles priced between 150,000 and 200,000 pesos (roughly $8,000 to $10,700), competing with established brands — particularly Asian manufacturers — will require technical transparency and consumer trust.
The Mexican Association of Automobile Distributors (AMDA) has noted that buyers will demand to know about safety, battery durability, after-sales service, and charging infrastructure before considering a new-generation national vehicle.
Federal authorities maintain that the contracting process complied with current legislation. However, as the project advances toward its planned 2027 commercial launch, demands for transparency and accountability over the use of public funds may become as prominent as the electric car itself.
