A French automotive manufacturer has confirmed that it will invest US $100 million in a new plant in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.

Le Bélier plans to produce aluminum parts such as engine mounts, braking systems and chassis components in the 35,000-square-meter plant, said the state government this week. The company’s client portfolio includes BMW, Mitsubishi, Daimler, Continental and Hitachi.

Governor Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo, who was in France to visit the company, said the investment spoke of the region’s international reputation. “The old continent has showed its confidence in us through companies with a high level of automation and Industry 4.0 such as Le Bélier, whose project in San Miguel de Allende will be the only one nationwide that brings together all the techniques of aluminum casting through state-of-the-art systems,” he said.

He added that the investment, first announced in June, would create 500 jobs, and that the company’s social outlook aligned with that of his government. “We ensure that the companies that arrive have a high social commitment and care for natural resources. That is the case of Le Bélier, which has an SBT [Science Based Target] certification for the good of our planet,” he said.

David Guffroy, CEO of Le Bélier, said investment in Guanajuato was attractive due to the region’s connectivity, highly competitive workforce and local supply ecosystem, Rodríguez reported.

Le Bélier has a workforce of 3,200 people, presence on three continents and 12 production units across France, Hungary, Serbia, China and Mexico. The company entered Mexico in 2000 with a plant in Querétaro. It forecasts sales of more than 290 million euros (about US $343 million) for 2021.

With reports from El Economista, Milenio and AM Guanajuato