Mexican automakers manufactured more than 360,000 vehicles in June alone, and are expected to produce approximately four million this year. (Shutterstock)
The Mexican automotive industry rebounded in June despite growing trade tensions with the United States. Production rose nearly 4.9% and exports increased by 14% compared to the same month a year ago.
INEGI reported that Mexican automakers manufactured 361,047 vehicles in June — a record for the month — while exporting 331,517 cars, also a new record for June.
The total number of vehicles assembled in Mexico during the first half of 2025 was 0.5% higher than the figure recorded from January-June 2024, representing the most light vehicles ever produced by Mexico automakers during any January-June period.
Mexico produced 2,006,720 units during the first half of the year, only the second time the domestic auto industry has exceeded the two million mark during a six-month period. The only other time this occurred was in 2019, the year before the COVID pandemic, when Mexican automakers manufactured 2,001,272 light vehicles.
Automakers expect to produce approximately four million units in 2025, according to Alberto Bustamante, director general of the National Agency of Automotive Suppliers (Anapsa).
General Motors led the way with 436,106 vehicles manufactured during the first six months this year. Nissan followed with 341,530 units and Ford was third with 223,742 cars produced.
In percentage terms, Toyota’s production rose 55% during the January-June period compared to last year (from 103,264 to 160,282), while KIA Motors’ production rose 15.5% (from 123,850 to 143,080 ). The two Asian carmakers also led the way in June, with their production rising 24.7% and 24.3%, respectively, compared to the same month a year ago.
However, the news is not all good, as cumulative exports and domestic sales remain in negative territory.
Domestic sales declined by 7,329 to 116,062, a 5.9% drop compared to June 2024. Year-on-year domestic sales for the first half of 2025 were also down by just more than 2,000 vehicles.
Nissan remains far and away the most popular car on the domestic market with 128,283 vehicles sold during the first six months of the year. General Motors placed second with 94,601 cars sold.
Despite the 14% upturn in light vehicle exports in June, total exports for the first half of 2025 (166,184) lag behind the figure recorded for January-June last year (1,714,794) by 2.83%, or 48,610 units.
This is partly due to a 2.9% drop in exports to the United States, the destination for 79.7%, or 1,327,892 vehicles, of Mexican automotive exports.
A CIBanco customer said they were unable to withdraw cash when using an ATM at a branch of the bank. (Unsplash)
We asked and you responded.
Mexico News Daily received more than 200 responses to the survey we published on July 3 in which we asked readers whether they had been affected by the United States’ sanctions on CIBanco, Intercam and Vector.
In late June, the United States Department of the Treasury accused the aforesaid Mexican banks and brokerage firm of laundering millions of dollars for drug cartels involved in the trafficking of fentanyl and other narcotics to the U.S.
Treasury Department orders prohibiting transactions between U.S. banks and the three Mexican financial institutions are not scheduled to take effect until the middle of July, but many of you told us that you have already had problems or issues with your Intercam and CIBanco accounts.
Nevertheless, the vast majority of survey respondents didn’t take immediate decisions to close their accounts with the two Mexican banks, although many were considering doing so.
Intercam — which says it specializes “in making expats feel right at home during their stay in Mexico” — is especially popular with foreign residents in Mexico. Lionne Decker, an agent with the real estate company Mazatlán 4 Sale, told Mexico News Daily, via the survey, that he has dealt with the bank for almost 20 years and “referred countless expats” to it.
From the comments we received from readers, we got a sense of the frustration and anger of Intercam and CIBanco customers whose capacity to transfer and access their own money has been affected by the United States’ declaration that the two banks are of “primary money laundering concern in connection with illicit opioid trafficking.”
However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom, as some survey respondents expressed optimism that the situation will normalize, while others took the opportunity to voice their satisfaction with the service they have received from Intercam.
While some MND readers indicated they were unsure about how to deal with their personal banking situation in light of the impact of the U.S. sanctions on Intercam and CIBanco, others told us what they have already done or what they plan to do.
Below you will find the key results from MND’s survey as well as a selection of the comments we received from readers.
The survey results
A total of 204 Mexico News Daily readers responded to our survey.
Most respondents — 154 of 204 — are Intercam customers
Three-quarters of respondents (75.5%) said they are Intercam customers and have been (or will be) impacted by the U.S. sanctions.
Almost half of Intercam customers (48%) said they were keeping their accounts.
Four in ten Intercam customers (41%) said they were considering closing their accounts but hadn’t yet taken a final decision.
One in ten Intercam customers (10%) said they were closing their accounts.
Most CIBanco customers are considering closing their accounts
One in seven respondents (14%) said they are CIBanco customers and have been (or will be) impacted by the U.S. sanctions.
Six in ten CIBanco customers (62%) said they were considering closing their accounts but hadn’t yet taken a final decision.
Three in 10 CIBanco customers (31%) said they were keeping their accounts.
Only 7% of CIBanco customers said that they were closing their accounts.
Just one Vector client responded
Just one survey respondent said they were a client of Vector, a brokerage firm controlled by Alfonso Romo, who served as former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s chief of staff between December 2018 and December 2020.
That person said they were keeping their account with Vector.
Around 2% of survey respondents said they hadn’t personally been impacted by U.S. sanctions on Intercam, CIBanco and Vector but know someone who has been (or will be) affected.
Readers report problems completing transfers to and from Intercam accounts
Terry, a reader in San Miguel de Allende, told Mexico News Daily that he has an Intercam account and has been unable to send money from the United States to Mexico, and from Mexico to the United States. He said that his capacity to pay bills has been affected by the problems he has experienced with his Intercam account.
An Intercam customer in Puerto Vallarta said they had been unable to transfer money from Canada to their account in Mexico. The person added that their Intercam branch had limited daily cash withdrawals to 20,000 pesos (US $1,070).
Another Intercam customer said they had decided to open an account with Mexican financial group Actinver so they could “wire dollars down” to Mexico.
“I’m using O’Rourke & Asociados as well,” the person said, referring to a Jalisco-based investment firm.
“It’s not as easy as before with Intercam but it’s going to work, at least for now,” the person said.
Another person said they have been placed in a “horrible situation” as they have “no access” to their money “because the U.S. will not send” funds to Intercam anymore.
Another Mexico News Daily reader said their client “is from Mexico and he has his money in Intercam and now he cannot pay me.”
Transfers to CIBanco ‘in limbo,’ says bank customer
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said on June 25 that its orders prohibiting transactions between U.S. banks and Intercam, CIBanco and Vector would “become effective 21 days after … [they] are published in the Federal Register.”
A CIBanco customer highlighted this in their response to Mexico News Daily’s survey, and accused Mexican authorities of “canceling transfers.”
“The U.S. government gave the banks 21 days. Why the knee-jerk reaction from the Mexican authorities? Why couldn’t they wait the full 21 days before canceling transfers? Several of us immediately sent money to Mexico to get ahead of this, and now our cash is in limbo,” the person said.
A reader in San Miguel de Allende said that their employees have CIBanco accounts, which made it “easy to transfer money to them when I was out of the country.”
“Paying them efficiently will now be much more difficult, making their lives more difficult,” the person said.
Receiving funds to pay builders a problem for some
Pauline Duffy, an Intercam customer in Baja California Sur (BCS), expressed concern about her ability to get money from the United States to Mexico to pay for the construction of her new home.
“I’m building a house in Los Barriles, BCS. I don’t know how I will pay my next payment to the contractor. If I don’t pay him, how will he pay his workers? I’m looking for a new bank to open an account, but I’m not a resident so I’m finding it very difficult. I’m hoping this will be resolved soon,” she said.
Another Intercam customer told Mexico News Daily that they are “having a small 900 square-foot house built and it’s very difficult to pay labor.”
“I wish I had some warning about this bank situation,” the person said.
Another Mexico News Daily reader said that the U.S. sanctions “took place at a most inopportune time for us.”
“We were in the process of buying a house and we were not able to transfer funds [to Intercam]. We were not able to cash a personal U.S. check as before and we have other concerns about what is going to happen next,” the person said.
Intercam and CIBanco customers report problems withdrawing funds
An Intercam customer in Mazatlán told Mexico News Daily that they weren’t able to take out as much money as they wanted from their account.
“The manager kept changing his rules. We waited 4 hours to take out 50,000 pesos and then we were only allowed to take out 10,000 pesos via the ATM machine,” the person said.
A CIBanco customer said they were unable to withdraw cash when using an ATM at a branch of the bank.
“It might have been a fluke, but I routinely deposit [money to my CIBanco account] from my U.S. account. I’m concerned this stupid problem will affect [my ability to do] that,” the person said.
Tim, an Intercam customer in Ajijic, Jalisco, said there had been “a brief run on the banks” and branches had “stopped filling the ATMs.”
He added that Intercam branches were only allowing withdrawals up to a maximum of 20,000 pesos.
Larry, an Intercam customer in La Peñita de Jaltemba, Nayarit, also encountered a maximum limit on withdrawals.
“I was told I could no longer deposit into my account by check and I cannot withdraw any more than 50,000 pesos per day,” he said.
“My financial director was very apologetic and said this should be straightened out in a week or so,” Larry said.
John McKay, an Intercam customer in Ajijic, said that “being unable to deposit Canadian and United States currency checks will eventually make it impossible for me to pay my living expenses.”
Time to find another bank?
The survey results indicated that many people were considering closing their accounts with Intercam and CIBanco.
One MND reader explained why they were planning to withdraw funds from their Intercam account.
“We have a large amount in our 9-month CD [certificate of deposit]. When it hits maturity, we are going to move it to another bank. Our concern is the lack of being able to access our funds abroad,” the person said.
Another survey respondent said they “would not be able to operate in Cabo and the United States” while continuing to bank with Intercam.
Randi, an Intercam customer in San Jose del Cabo, said:
“We have opened another account at Banorte. For the time being we are keeping our Intercam account but since we cannot get money into that account there will be no transactions. If Intercam survives, we will stay with them because we have always gotten good service there. We will see how the service is at Banorte and decide later.”
Douglas, an Intercam customer in Colima city, said that the bank closed its only branch in the state capital earlier this year, “and now the nearest branch to me is in Manzanillo, about an hour away.”
“First that, and now this. If I didn’t have a timed deposit there I would probably have already moved my money,” he said.
A part-time resident of Nuevo Nayarit told MND they have reduced their Intercam account balance “by prepaying HOA [homeowners association] fees.”
“Account is still open but risk is reduced. When I get there in the fall, I’ll look for another bank,” the person said.
A CIBanco customer in San Miguel de Allende said they have used the bank for ten years to exchange Bank of America checks for pesos.”
“I will now have to find another local bank,” the person said.
Readers express support for Intercam
Mary Jo Mallan, an Intercam customer, said that the service she has received at the bank’s two branches in Ajijic “has been excellent.”
“I have been using Wise to transfer money from my U.S. bank to my Intercam account. Without that service I have no way of transferring money to myself in Mexico. Today I opened an account at another bank where I can use Wise, but I will go back to Intercam if possible in the future,” she said.
An MND reader in Puerto Vallarta stated that “Intercam is a very good bank in my opinion … and deserves the presumption of innocence until otherwise proven.”
Rick Martin, an Intercam customer in La Paz, Baja California Sur, said that the bank “has been diligent about keeping me, as a depositor, aware of all the actions that are affecting them.”
John, a Puerto Vallarta resident, said that “Intercam is a great bank” and asserted that “whatever Trump’s perception [of it] is, I’m sure it’s a lie!”
“No proof of wrongdoing has been provided” by U.S. authorities, he added.
An Intercam customer in Los Cabos said they “have faith in” the bank.
“I am disgusted by the actions of the USA,” the person added.
Steve in Puerto Vallarta said he has been banking with Intercam for four years and is “very satisfied with the service.”
“What U.S. banks were involved with the wire fraud?” he asked. “This fraud requires banks on both sides of the border.”
Mexican student abroad encounters problems using CIBanco account
We received the following response from a Mexican reader in Canada:
“I’m a Mexican student in Canada and I cannot use my CIBanco card anymore after Visa canceled all transactions with the bank. My family in Mexico would sometimes send me money through CIBanco and now I cannot access it abroad.”
Optimism that Intercam will ‘return to normal operations’
Randolph López, a reader in Cuyutlán, Colima, told MND that he is in contact with managers at his Intercam branch and remarked that he is “fairly confident” the bank will “return to normal operations.”
“It’s true that in about two weeks U.S. banks will not be able to make money transfers in US dollars to [Intercam and CIBanco] until this matter is settled. But this USA boycott does not have an impact on any other money transfers or operations WITHIN Mexico!” the person said.
Intercam customers express concern and uncertainty
“As a U.S. citizen living in Puerto Vallarta in the winter, I have always used Intercam because I could just write a U.S. check and deposit it,” one reader said.
“I, and many like me, live month to month and therefore need to transfer funds monthly.This banking fiasco will really impact me, and I don’t know what to do,” the person said.
Another Intercam customer in Jalisco said that their Wise account, which they used to transfer pension funds from Canada to Mexico, was “closed suddenly.”
“I’m not sure what method I will be able to use in the future. I am just waiting to see how it goes. HSBC had major issues before and are still operating. Seems to be a problem everywhere. Hoping for the QFS [Quantum Financial System]!” the person said.
An Intercam customer in the Lake Chapala area said they were “unsure” how they would be able “to move US dollars into Mexico and convert them to pesos.”
“Other banks aside from the three mentioned have stopped accepting U.S. bank checks — I’m assuming as a safety issue,” the person said.
Finding a bank that will accept U.S. checks is a concern for some Americans who previously depended on CIBanco and Intercam. (Unsplash)
Nicole, an Intercam customer in San Carlos, Sonora, expressed concern about the safety of the money in her account.
“I am Canadian and I am furious. We have nothing to do with the U.S. and President Trump’s unproven claims that is holding my money hostage,” she said.
“I am traveling and cannot access my funds and have term deposits that are coming up in the next few months and I want to buy a home with those funds,” Nicole said.
“… I’m told I have to physically be in Mexico to withdraw my money. I am nervous of leaving it and cannot access it from Canada. Intercam keeps insisting that my money is protected and insured. But what happens if the bank collapses?” she asked.
Charlene McDonald, an Intercam customer in San Miguel de Allende, described the situation as “deeply worrying.”
“I hope it doesn’t spread to other Mexican banking institutions,” she added.
Banking options beyond Intercam and CIBanco may be limited for some foreigners
Donald Childress, an Intercam customer in San Carlos, Sonora, highlighted that “we only have three banks in town” and CIBanco and Intercam “are two of them!!”
What does the future hold for Intercam? One reader weighs in
An Intercam customer in Puerto Vallarta told Mexico News Daily they “wouldn’t be surprised if the Mexican government engineers a sale of the bank’s assets to another bank
I’m not sure the other banks are any safer. I put enough money [in my account] to cover all summer … for homeowners fees and CFE [Federal Electricity Commission] so I’m not worried at this point and will wait to see what happens. … I wouldn’t be surprised if the Mexican government engineers a sales of [Intercam] assets to another bank. That’s what would happen in the United States,” the person said.
San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico has also been recognized as Best Wedding Destination, Best Gastronomic Destination and Friendliest City in the World, among other titles. (Mark de Jong/Unsplash)
San Miguel de Allende has been named the Best City in the World for the second year in a row in Travel + Leisure magazine’s 2025 World’s Best Awards.
The recognition, based on voting by the magazine’s readers, highlights the city’s hospitality, cultural richness, colonial architecture, gastronomy and the residents’ friendliness.
A typical street in San Miguel de Allende is often a work of architectural art in and of itself. (Unsplash)
“There’s major history, great restaurants and you can walk everywhere — or grab a $4-dollar taxi,” one T+L reader said. Another spoke for many non-residents by saying, “I would love to move there.”
“Voters praised the city’s many attractions, including centrally located museums, botanical gardens and shopping boutiques,” T+L wrote. Readers also noted the decades-old dynamic art scene and the plethora of events for a relatively small city, including the famous San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival
This is not the first time San Miguel has been so honored, or even the second. Before the 2024 and 2025 accolades, it was earlier named Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best City” at the World’s Best Awards in 2017 and 2018.
Moreover, it was recognized by Condé Nast Traveler as the “World’s Best Small City” in the magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for three consecutive years, from 2020 to 2022, and five times in its history. The first recognition from the travel publication came in 2013.
This destination in central Mexico has also been recognized as Best Wedding Destination, Best Gastronomic Destination and Friendliest City in the World, among other titles, further solidifying its reputation as a top international travel destination.
Located in Guanajuato state in a region known as El Bajío, San Miguel de Allende’s historic center and the Atotonilco Sanctuary were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008. The city is renowned for achieving a balance of history, culture and authenticity that has gained it the standing of a Pueblo Mágico.
Following San Miguel de Allende (with a reader score of 93.3) in this year’s ranking are Chiang Mai, Thailand (No. 2), Tokyo, Japan (No. 3), Bangkok, Thailand (No. 4), and Jaipur, India (No. 5).
Mexico City and Mérida also made it on the list
Coming in at No. 7, voters included Mexico City due to its exciting entertainment offerings. “What more can be said about Mexico’s dynamic and delectable capital?” T + L writes. Readers highlighted the city’s “incredible” museums, vast culinary offer, fabulous hotels “and urban parks to rival any in London or Paris, New York or Sydney.”
Mérida, Yucatán, just made the list at No. 25. “Consistently described as one of Mexico’s most ‘vibey’ cities, historic Mérida is a haven for artists, collectors and other creatives who frequent the galleries, villas, and restaurants of this inland Yucatecan metropolis,” T + L writes. Voters noted the city’s vast cultural wealth and the many Maya ruins in its surroundings.
In 2019, Mérida was named “World’s Best Small City” by Condé Nast Traveler magazine in its Readers’ Choice Awards. In that edition, Mérida surpassed cities such as Florence, Quebec City and Monte Carlo.
The suspect was brandishing a knife and pistol on a balcony, but inside the residence, the police found a cache of weapons and gear, some of which is shown here. (México state Security Ministry/X)
Responding to a 9-1-1 call, authorities in México state disarmed and arrested a foreigner brandishing a gun and a knife in the city of Atlacomulco last week.
According to the official police report dated July 5, the suspect was standing on the balcony of an apartment complex wearing a helmet, a bullet-proof vest and tactical gear and was reportedly acting “aggressively” when police arrived.
Durante la intervención aseguraron 6 armas, cargadores, cartuchos útiles y equipo táctico. El individuo portaba una credencial con la leyenda “CIA”. pic.twitter.com/ZDK2kzujli
— Secretaría de Seguridad del Estado de México (@SS_Edomex) July 5, 2025
Determining that the suspect posed a threat to the community, state and municipal police officials surrounded the building and alerted the Special Reaction Force (FAR). The FAR entered the apartment and apprehended the suspect, who was taken to the hospital for treatment of a cut on his hand.
The suspect — identified by media as a U.S. citizen named “James” — was wearing what appeared to be a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) badge and was carrying a CIA credential, neither of which was confirmed as authentic.
Police secured and inspected the apartment, where they found and seized weapons, including four pistols, two 5.56 mm Colt assault rifles (known as M4 carbines), the knife, more than 100 rounds of ammunition, six magazines, several cartridges and tactical equipment.
The equipment confiscated was described in the police report as two tactical vests — one camouflage green and one black, each with two ballistic plates — two cheek pads and two helmets, one of them equipped with a digital camera, sidelight and goggles.
After being released from the hospital and read his rights, the suspect was turned over to the México state Attorney General’s Office which charged him with disturbing public order and possession of weapons exclusively for the Army.
The incident took place in the Las Fuentes neighborhood of Atlacomulco, a municipality of 110,000 in the northwestern part of México state about 120 kilometers from Mexico City. It was known as the political center of the “Grupo Atlacomulco” during the long-running rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), spawning a succession of governors and one president.
A scene from the filming of Roma (No. 46) by Alfonso Cuarón, whom the NYT dubbed “the Mexican virtuoso.” (Carlos Somonte/Instagram)
The New York Times recently released a list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century, and Mexico — or more specifically, Alfonso Cuarón — certainly made its mark. Three Mexican productions made it to the list, in addition to two Hollywood films directed by Cuarón.
The films were ranked based on the criteria of 500 filmmakers, stars and influential film fans. Voters selected movies from the United States, Spain and Japan, among other countries. The list was not limited to one genre — the 100 films include animated movies, documentaries, historical dramas and beyond.
Topping the list is Parasite (2019), a South Korean film directed by Bong Joon Ho.
Here are the Mexican movies that made it to the list.
Pan’s Labyrinth, 2006 (No. 54)
“Pan’s Labyrinth” propelled Director Guillermo del Toro to stardom. A coproduction of Spain and Mexico, the story follows Ofelia, a girl who enters a fantastical world during Franco-era Spain, to escape from the harsh day-to-day of living with her fascist stepfather. “The visually dazzling allegory affirmed del Toro as one of our finest filmmakers today,” the NYT said.
Roma, 2018 (No. 46)
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, “Roma” tells the story of Cleo, a young domestic worker of Indigenous origin employed by an upper-class family in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City. The film, set in the 1960s, paints a portrait of social hierarchies, inequality and the fundamental — albeit often tragic — role of women in Mexico. “This is Alfonso Cuarón’s film for himself,” the NYT said.
Y tu mamá también, 2002 (No. 18)
“Y tu mamá también,” also directed by Alfonso Cuarón, follows high schoolers Tenoch (Diego Luna) and Julio (Gael García) on a road trip with an older woman. The story explores classism, male friendship, mortality and above all else, lust. “Cuarón shoots sex the way his characters feel it: hot, all-consuming, the weight of the world just off-camera,” the NYT said. “Like youth itself, we stumble out of the film blinking, disoriented, sifting through memories like sand strewn with gold.”
Movies directed by a Mexican director
Voters also included two Hollywood movies directed by Alfonso Cuarón, whom the NYT dubbed “the Mexican virtuoso.”
Gravity, 2013 (No. 97)
“Alfonso Cuarón’s action film is one of the 21st century’s greatest thrill rides,” the NYT said. “Gravity” tells the story of an abandoned astronaut in space who must find her way back to Earth while confronting trauma she has long suppressed.
Impressive and deserved that 4 movies by Alfonso Cuarón made it into the New York Times list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st century.
Cuarón’s science fiction drama depicts a global crisis of infertility, where no child has been born for 18 years. The film follows Kee, the only pregnant woman in the world, and Theo, an activist who strives to protect her and her baby from political factions seeking to exploit the child for their own purposes.
What Mexican movies would you add to the Top 100 of the 21st Century? Let us know in the comments.
Carved wood and painted clay pieces by M.A Estudio. (MA Estudio)
Seven years ago, after several years in public service, Mexican visual artist Melissa Ávila began crafting a vibrant universe that honors Mexico’s millennia-old artisanal traditions, utilizing a diverse array of materials from Mexico’s handcrafting traditions — including wool, clay, wood, palm, minerals, volcanic stone, cardboard, ceramics, tin, iron, cotton, paint and jute.
Her goal was to create art and artistic decor objects for different spaces using these traditional materials.
Artist Melissa Ávila is the owner of M.A. Estudio in Mexico City. (M.A. Estudio)
The result of her work toward this goal is the M.A Estudioinitiative, a studio that brings sculptures, carpets and other art objects to life, celebrating modernism, Mexico’s traditions and design.
“The magic of M.A. [Estudio] is that it was born intuitively, without overthinking, and evolved through exploration and experimentation,” Ávila told Mexico News Daily as she sat recently down to discuss her Mexico City studio.
One of Ávila’s primary objectives is to foster collaborative projects while preserving traditions and honoring artisanal heritage and processes. So M.A Estudio operates on a collaborative model based on building long-term relationships with traditional artisans.
“To me, fair trade implies a 360-degree approach: It must be fair to those who create, produce, sell and buy it. It must be viable and functional for everyone,” Ávila said.
M.A Estudio emphasizes the value of handmade items and the traditions that produce them.
“We love artisan processes, not just working with artisans. We cherish everything related to crafts, handmade work, artisan culture and traditional processes.”
For Ávila, handmade processes are intimately tied to the earth and to culture. They highlight identity, natural resources and the region in which they were created.
Long-term relationships with artisans
Since its inception in 2017, one of M.A Estudio’s strengths has been its long-term collaboration with five artisan families based in regions known for their rich artisanal traditions, including Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guerrero, Puebla, Michoacán and Mexico State.
When it comes to the creative process, Melissa maintains an open mind. While she designs most pieces, certain series are created in collaboration with artisans.
“The studio is a space where I envision us all fitting together, so we are open to new collaborations and techniques. There is always a spirit of transformation, and we are adaptable to meet evolving needs,” she said.
The GEEL series is one such collaboration: It was designed with members of the Michoacán Purépecha community known as the Zipiajo. The series features a technique that smooths clay using materials like mud, fine black sand and red earth, known as charanda, for its final finishing touches.
“Many other collections feature my designs, which artisans appreciate, allowing us to create prototypes together. Sometimes, I’m hired by associations, NGOs and other institutions to mentor artisan groups,” Ávila explained.
Values make the difference
It’s important to avoid generalizing or romanticizing Mexico’s artisan sector, Ávila said, while also supporting the community and recognizing its complexities
“Mexico has an abundance of talent. It is a vast country and we must continue to seek ways to promote this heritage,” she said.
The Mexico City art and design studio focuses on the creation of art objects for interior design. (M.A. Estudio)
M.A Estudio also provides opportunities for creators to design their own products and produce them with the handmade team, giving them access to a stable income. They can rely on M.A Estudio for the entire design and production process.
“For me, the future is collaborative at any level,” Ávila said.
She is pleased to observe a growing public interest in understanding where products originate, she said.
“The goal for us as consumers is to become more aware of our purchases, to comprehend their origins and to acknowledge their impact on the planet and the people who create them,” she said.
With its unique designs, created using ethical practices, M.A. Estudio departs from the common practice of merely reselling handicrafts, instead integrating a thoughtful design process that is deeply connected to communities. The result is a stunning collection that brings joy and elegance to spaces.
What to do as an inveterate early riser in a culture where many businesses don't open before 11 a.m.? (Jose Carlos/Pexels)
My body wakes naturally around 3 a.m.
Each morning, I lie in bed for a few moments, looking out at the Guanajuato night. Then I slip silently out of bed, careful not to wake my beloved. The early morning, my solo sanctuary, is my favorite time of the day, and not to be disturbed by anyone other than birds.
Mexico is not a country that likes an early start. (VD Photography/Unsplash)
Downstairs, I turn on the coffee, then settle into my comfy armchair in our sala to read inspiring literature, listen to Spanish podcasts and write in my journal.
This time of day was known as matins or vigil in ancient Christianity. The Tzeltal, an Indigenous people who live in the Chiapas highlands, view the predawn darkness as a holy time, when the veil between the human and supernatural worlds thins. I feel I’m in a private, intimate world all my own. I sometimes remember my sister saying that when she nursed her firstborn at this gentle time, she felt like a doe with her fawn.
When people ask me why I get up so early, I explain that it’s not my choice so much as my innate biorhythm. A person’s sleep schedule preference is closely tied to their circadian rhythms, the natural physical process that follows a similar cycle every 24 hours. I used to worry that I wasn’t getting enough quality REM rest, but my sleep pattern doesn’t affect my energy level during the day, especially because Barry and I have a lie-down on our sofa almost every afternoon.
In both towns, we take a stroll around the neighborhood, then I drop him off at the cafe, where he’ll stay for an hour, while I return home.
When we’re traveling, we sleep in, but not much by other people’s standards. Last March, for example, Barry and I stayed at a small hotel in Tepotzlán, near Mexico City. We loved the hotel — other than the breakfast time.
A culture where dinner may not happen until 8 p.m. or later and where even children may be allowed to stay up until late at night, Mexico can be an adjustment for an early-to-bed, early-to-rise expat. (Mark de Jong/Unsplash)
The meal wasn’t served til 8:30 a.m. Clearly a challenge! To fill the waiting time, we went on an early morning walk every morning. Not a bad choice — it was calm and cool at that hour — though I’d have liked the option to have good coffee first. My solution was to carry a portable hot water immerser, a plastic mug and instant coffee — a shabby substitute for the real thing, but así es.
After returning from our walk, we’d have liked nothing better than to enjoy a dip in the pool, but no such luck, as the staff didn’t remove the pool cover til 10 a.m., and there was no way to sneak under it. Believe me, I considered it.
It turns out, not only do individuals have biorhythms, but so do cultures. According to the World Population Review, countries like Switzerland, Australia and Germany are examples of early-morning cultures, while Mediterranean, southern European and Latin American countries tend to have night owl patterns.
A nation’s location influences its culture, with countries closer to the equator (like some in Latin America) having more natural light throughout the day and a tendency to be more active at night. There are exceptions, though.
One is Colombia, the world’s earliest-rising country, where households often start their day around 4 a.m., although, according to El País, that doesn’t make them more productive. The second earliest-rising country is Indonesia (6:55 a.m.), while Mexicans, along with the Japanese, rise at 7:09 a.m. Americans get up at 7:25 a.m.
Weather contributes too. In the ’80s, when Barry and I lived in the Pacific Northwest, I steeled myself to get up early to write before I went to work, dreading it because it was so cold. To save money, we didn’t turn the heat on til; later in the day.
As for shopping, in Guanajuato, the only stores that open at 8 a.m. are La Comer supermarket, Waldo’s (Mexico’s Dollar Store), and another supermarket, Bodega Aurora, which I avoid, as it’s owned by Walmart. But I love my walk to La Comer.
It takes me about 15 minutes through one of the city’s tunnels to reach the supermarket, which is calm and uncrowded at that hour. I wish more Mexican stores would open that early. ¡Ojalá!Many of the stalls in the Hidalgo Mercado aren’t even open at noon. And the department store La Marina doesn’t open til 11 a.m. The nerve!
I also wish the weekly Guanajuato symphony would start earlier. It used to begin at 8:30 p.m., past my bedtime, but at least it now starts half an hour earlier.
Still, I feel fortunate to be a natural early riser, perky even at 3 a.m. Some studies show that people who wake earlier are less likely to develop depression, anxiety and other mood disorders, probably because early risers have more access to daylight, a natural mood booster.
Biorhythmically challenged as I am in Mexico, my unending fascination with its ancient culture, coupled with the country’s many beauties and friendly people, more than make up for later opening hours. Whatever time shops open, it is an honor and a privilege to live here.
Louisa Rogers and her husband Barry Evans divide their lives between Guanajuato and Eureka, on California’s North Coast. Louisa writes articles and essays about expat life, Mexico, travel, physical and psychological health, retirement and spirituality. Her recent articles are on her website, https://authory.com/LouisaRogers
Sheinbaum said on Monday that gentrification "was a phenomenon that occurred after the pandemic [with] the so-called digital nomads." (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
At her Monday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum offered an opinion on Friday’s protest in Mexico City against gentrification.
She also weighed in on the issue of gentrification itself.
Among other issues, Sheinbaum announced that the train line between central Mexico City and the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) in México state won’t open as soon as expected.
Here is a recap of the president’s July 7 mañanera.
Sheinbaum denounces xenophobia in CDMX anti-gentrification protest
A reporter asked the president about the protest in Mexico City on Friday against gentrification. Organized under the slogan “Gentrification is not progress, it’s dispossession,” the protest included expressions of anger and contempt directed at U.S. citizens who have moved into Mexico City neighborhoods such as Condesa and Roma in large numbers in recent years and thus contributed to an increase in rents.
Sheinbaum — who as mayor of Mexico City entered into a partnership with Airbnb and UNESCO to promote the capital to digital nomads — took umbrage at the “xenophobic displays” during Friday’s protest and called on “all Mexicans” to reject discrimination.
Condena la presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum manifestaciones xenofóbicas en la Condesa, “nosotros somos un país abierto al mundo”. Añade que se debe dar un proceso de inclusión en la CDMX ante la gentrificación. pic.twitter.com/Bw1tbhsFy2
— JorgeArmandoRocha (@JorgeArmandoR_) July 7, 2025
“No to discrimination, no to racism, no to classism, no to xenophobia, no to machismo,” she said.
“… All human beings are equal, and we cannot treat anyone as less,” Sheinbaum said.
“The xenophobic displays in that protest must be condemned,” she added.
Sheinbaum declared that it is never okay to call for people of “any nationality” to leave Mexico, even when protesters have a “legitimate” demand, as she said is the case with the fight against gentrification.
She pointed out that Mexico has a rich history of welcoming people from around the world.
“Mexico has always been supportive and fraternal. In the 20th century, we welcomed the Spanish Republicans and people from the southern cone of South America due to the coups,” Sheinbaum said.
“We’ve welcomed Guatemalans, who due to violence and discrimination have arrived to our country. Mexico is a country that is open to the world and isn’t discriminatory. So the xenophobic attitudes can’t be justified,” she said.
Gentrification is ‘an issue of real estate speculation,’ says Sheinbaum
Sheinbaum said that gentrification is, “in reality, an issue of real estate speculation, mainly stemming from the rental of apartments through digital platforms for tourism or for people who come to live in Mexico for 3, 4, or 5 months.”
“It was a phenomenon that occurred after the pandemic [with] the so-called digital nomads,” she said.
“A lot of people from other countries of the world who continue working remotely, many of them from the United States, come to Mexico because Mexico is a marvelous country and Mexico City is a very beautiful city where a lot of people want to live,” Sheinbaum said.
“They come to Mexico to work for a while,” she said.
“The people who come to Mexico have to respect our laws. Likewise, they can’t have a discriminatory attitude, especially toward the people who are opening their arms to them,” Sheinbaum said.
In 2022, Sheinbaum, then the mayor of Mexico City, promoted Airbnb as a way to make Mexico City more attractive to digital nomads, particularly those from the United States. “We have no [knowledge] that … [higher rents] are associated with Airbnb,” Sheinbaum said at the time.
The president said on Monday that the federal government will work with the Mexico City government to “seek mechanisms of regulation” so that the cost of living in neighborhoods such as Condesa and Roma doesn’t continue to go up and force more long-term residents to relocate.
“In effect, particularly in Condesa and Roma, there is a lot of real estate speculation due to Airbnb rentals and all these digital platforms that rent spaces. I say this brand, but there are many other platforms,” Sheinbaum said.
This “real estate speculation” cannot be allowed to increase the cost of living in Mexico City and consequently cause gentrification, “which is to expel people who have lived [in these neighborhoods] for years and years,” she said.
“… There has to be inclusion, always. It’s not tolerance, it’s inclusion — we’re an inclusive society,” Sheinbaum said.
“There was a problem with several communities,” Sheinbaum responded.
She said that the project is “advancing” and that the “problem” with communities in México state has been resolved. However, Sheinbaum also said that talks between authorities and members of the communities through which the new railroad runs are ongoing.
She said that some people say they weren’t “supported” when an “original” train line was built through their communities. They are asking for “social support,” the president said.
Once the train is complete, travelers departing from Mexico City’s Buenavista station will be able to reach the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) in México state in approximately 40 minutes. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
“… There are others who say their homes were damaged. A review of homes is being carried out,” Sheinbaum said.
“So everything is being attended to and [the right of way] is now practically freed,” she said.
Sheinbaum said that a new opening date for the long-awaited railroad to AIFA will be announced soon.
She noted that the AIFA-Pachuca train line will open sometime after the inauguration of the railroad between Buenavista, located in central Mexico City, and the three-year-old airport.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing in central Texas, where severe flooding claimed the lives of at least 100 people. (Nick Sortor/X)
The Foreign Affairs Ministry (SRE) is supporting at least 30 Mexican citizens who survived the recent flooding in Texas, President Claudia Sheinbaum said in her Monday morning press conference.
“Nine requested support to return to Mexico, 16 requested the replacement of their passports due to destruction, and four did not request assistance because they are in the U.S. with work visas and are being assisted by contracted agencies,” Sheinbaum said.
Torrential rains hit central Texas over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, causing flash flooding across several areas of Texas and devastating the San Antonio area.
Several rural areas were unprepared for the scale of the storm, with many citing late or insufficient flood warnings from the National Weather Service.
In Kerr County, officials reported 84 deaths, including 27 children and staff who were attending summer camp at Camp Mystic on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Ten campers and one counselor remain missing.
“Our regards, love and strength, our deepest sympathies to all those who died, all the families who lost a family member in these floods,” Sheinbaum said on Monday.
The president said the Mexican Consulate in San Antonio is in communication with Mexican families affected by the floods and will visit shelters as soon as possible.
Sheinbaum also recognized the work of two young Mexican women who participated in rescue efforts.
Silvana Garza Valdez and María Paula Zárate, both counselors at Camp Mystic, reacted quickly to the storm that began on July 3, moving their assigned campers to the highest area of their cabin and staying alert through the night until they could evacuate the 20 young girls to safety.
“It makes me very proud, truthfully,” the president said.
On Sunday, Mexico sent a group of firefighters and rescue personnel from Acuña, Coahuila, to help search for flood victims.
Many participants of Friday's protest against gentrification singled out Americans in Mexico City due to anger over the treatment their compatriots are receiving in the United States as the Trump administration pursues its mass deportation agenda. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
Hundreds of people protested in Mexico City on Friday against the gentrification of neighborhoods where many foreign residents live and many foreign tourists stay, such as Condesa and Roma.
The protesters gathered on Friday afternoon in the Lindbergh Forum section of Condesa’s Parque México, where they held up placards with messages such as “Free us from American gentrification”; “You’re visiting paradise, we’re being pushed out”; “You’re not an expat, you’re an invader”; “Foreigners love Mexico, but hate Mexicans;” and “Dispossession comes disguised as Airbnb.”
“Housing to live in, not to invest in!” read a large banner affixed to the imposing five-pillared structure in Lindbergh Forum, a popular gathering and recreation place for both Mexicans and foreigners.
“We’re sick of foreigners coming with their euros and their dollars, wanting to buy our homeland,” said one rally speaker.
“… At the end of the day, if we begin to allow these kinds of things, there won’t be anything or anyone to stop them,” he said.
The protest was organized under the slogan “Gentrification is not progress, it’s dispossession.”
It was promoted on social media by various organizations, including one called Frente por el Arraigo y la Inclusión Vecinal (Front for Neighborhood Roots and Inclusion).
Most of the protesters were young people, among whom were residents, and former residents, of inner-city Mexico City neighborhoods such as Condesa, Roma and Juárez. However, the majority of the protesters live in other parts of the city, according to media reports.
“¡Gringos, go home!”: En la colonia Condesa se realizó la primera manifestación en contra del aumento de rentas y el desplazamiento de vecinos a causa de la gentrificación.
Durante la protesta quemaron una piñata que representa a los extranjeros gentrificadores.
The number of foreigners living in neighborhoods such as Condesa and Roma increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the residents are from the United States, and include people who work remotely for companies in the U.S. and thus earn salaries in dollars.
The influx of foreign residents, and foreign tourists, has changed the face of neighborhoods such as Condesa and Roma and contributed to an increase in rents, forcing some Mexicans out and preventing others from moving into highly desirable parts of the capital. Inflation and other factors have also contributed to an overall higher cost of living in Mexico City and other parts of the country.
The resentment some Mexicans harbor toward well-off foreign residents of the capital is not solely based on rising prices and gentrification, but also stems from perceptions that some of the outsiders make little effort to assimilate and learn Spanish, and don’t significantly contribute to local tax collection.
“You walk around here in Condesa and every two steps you see a foreigner,” one protester told the news magazine Proceso.
“… [They are] people who don’t speak our language, don’t share our culture and are displacing [Mexicans],” he said.
Similar protests against gentrification and mass tourism have taken place in various cities around the world, including Barcelona and Paris.
‘Gringos go home!’
Chants of “¡fuera gringos!” (gringos out!) and “gringos, go home” rang out in Parque México during the demonstration and as protesters subsequently marched through nearby streets of the capital.
“Fuera gringo!” is the battle cry of an emerging anti-gentrification movement in Mexico City. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
While foreigners from many countries around the world live in Condesa, Roma and other central neighborhoods of Mexico City, much of the protesters’ anger was focused on newcomers from the United States.
“Gringo, go back to your fucking country!” and “pinches gringos culeros” (fucking gringo assholes) were among the messages protesters conveyed on signs they held up.
Adding to protesters’ particular anger toward Americans is the unfair treatment many Mexicans believe their compatriots are receiving in the United States as the Trump administration pursues its mass deportation agenda.
In Condesa, some protesters told media outlets that their neighbors have been forced out of parts of Mexico City that are popular with foreigners because many residential properties have been turned into businesses or short-term accommodation advertised online on platforms such as Airbnb.
“We’re being left without neighbors,” one protester told the newspaper Milenio. “A lot of places are now businesses. The rents are going up.”
“We don’t have neighbors anymore,” 82-year-old Condesa resident Raquel Nava told Proceso at the protest in Parque México.
“I’m here because I’m worried that the social fabric of the neighborhood has been lost,” she said.
“… [My] neighbors lived in rentals but with the arrival of Airbnb they couldn’t pay the costs and they were evicted,” Nava said.
She described gentrification as the eviction of residents with ties to the local area and the arrival of “people who don’t integrate into the community.”
“… It’s not that I’m against foreigners, the doors were opened to them and they’re here, but they don’t appreciate the cultural heritage of these neighborhoods,” Nava said.
The organization Front for Neighborhood Roots and Inclusion ran a recent sticker campaign called “Red Card on Airbnb,” which seeks to raise awareness among neighbors and tourists about the adverse effects of the short-term housing site on local communities. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Michelle Castro, a 19-year-old university student, told the Associated Press that Mexico City “is going through a transformation.”
“There are a lot of foreigners, namely Americans, coming to live here. Many say it’s xenophobia, but it’s not. It’s just that so many foreigners come here, rents are skyrocketing because of Airbnb. Rents are so high that some people can’t even pay anymore,” she said.
Mexicans forced out of desirable central neighborhoods of the capital often face longer, more expensive commutes due to their relocation to cheaper, more peripheral areas of Mexico City.
While businesses such as cafes have proliferated in trendy neighborhoods that are popular with foreigners, the number of traditional businesses such as tortilla and butcher’s shops have declined in recent years, according to official government data.
“A lot of the flavor of the neighborhood is lost,” Erick Ramírez, a long-time resident of Condesa, told Proceso.
“… Stationery stores, dry cleaners and corner stores disappear,” and “more profitable businesses” appear in their place, he said.
While some of the new businesses are owned by foreigners, the proprietors of many of them are Mexicans, who have no doubt benefited from the influx of Americans, Europeans and others with ample disposable income. Airbnb entrepreneurs have also reaped major monetary rewards from the arrival of large numbers of foreigners.
Karla Mejía, a Condesa resident, spoke about economic inequality between foreigners and Mexicans.
“We, as residents, as taxpayers of the Mexican state, can’t afford housing, much less in an area like Condesa, but these people can,” she told Milenio.
Condesa is a leafy, pretty neighborhood and entertainment hub that many people consider ground zero for gentrification in Mexico City. Its array of entertainment options, including cafes, restaurants and bars, its inviting parks and its central location are among the reasons why it attracts large numbers of foreign residents and tourists.
The protest turns violent
While most protestors demonstrated peacefully, a small group committed acts of vandalism and violence in Parque México and nearby streets.
The large structure in Lindbergh Forum was defaced with graffiti messages, including “Housing is a right, not a commodity” and “My culture is not your trend” as well as pro-Palestine statements.
🔴 Durante Protesta Antigentrificación, destruyen Starbucks ubicado en esquina Sonora con Ámsterdam, colonia Hipódromo
In the streets of Condesa and Roma, radical, masked protesters smashed the windows of businesses and carried out other acts of violence and vandalism. Among the businesses targeted was a Starbucks cafe, where frightened customers threw themselves to the floor, a branch of the Banamex bank and a clothing store, which protesters looted.
All told, 14 businesses were damaged and 40 more were vandalized with graffiti, according to authorities in Cuauhtémoc, the borough where Condesa and Roma are located.
At Café Toscano, located opposite Plaza Rio de Janeiro in Roma Norte, one employee was injured when protesters attacked the establishment.
“Suddenly, they started throwing tables and chairs. Others came in and threw firecrackers. I took cover to avoid being hit by a rock they threw from outside and I hurt my hand,” Karen Jaramillo told the newspaper Reforma.
“They were moments of a lot of fear,” the cafe employee said.
Cafe manager Fernando Jasso said the business doesn’t contribute to gentrification in the area.
“We’re Mexican workers, the owners are Mexicans, the prices are accessible for everyone,” she said.
In addition to perpetrating acts of violence and vandalism, some protesters hurled insults at foreigners they encountered, according to media reports. Some Mexico City police officers were attacked with stones, the Milenio newspaper reported.
The march through the streets of Mexico City reached the Angel of Independence monument on Paseo de la Reforma, the capital’s most famous boulevard. The base of El Ángel, as the monument is commonly known, was also targeted by vandals.
Protesters also demonstrated outside the United States Embassy on Paseo de la Reforma and chanted inside the Mexico City metro system, according to the Associated Press.
Mayor Brugada and CDMX government denounce violence — and gentrification
“Mexico City doesn’t agree with gentrification. We reject this phenomenon that excludes the population from their neighborhoods and communities,” the government said.
The Mexico City government, led by Mayor Clara Brugada, said it is committed to upholding “the right to decent housing” but rejected the practice of violence as a method to resolve conflicts. (@ClaraBrugadaM/X)
“For that reason, we promote public housing policies that strengthen [community] roots, with accessible loans for the improvement and construction of housing in these areas. We also implement actions so that young people have access to affordable rental housing and families can obtain home ownership at affordable prices,” it said.
The Mexico City government said it is committed to upholding “the right to decent housing” and asserted that it is implementing “concrete policies” to guarantee it.
“We know that gentrification can exclude those who have lived their whole lives in their neighborhoods. That’s why we’re allocating unprecedented resources to create the conditions that allow them to continue developing their life project in their own community,” it said.
“But in no way do we endorse violence in confronting this problem,” the government added.
“We reject violence as a method to resolve conflicts. This city is one of rights and freedoms. We respect protests and social expressions … but not aggression,” it said.
“… The fight against gentrification cannot become an excuse to promote hate speech or discriminatory practices. We categorically reject any xenophobic expression against migrants, regardless of their origin, migratory situation or motivation for arriving in the city,” the Mexico City government said.
* Mexico News Daily has previously published numerous articles on gentrification in Mexico City and associated issues. Here is a selection of those articles.
![Sheinbaum said on Monday that gentrification "was a phenomenon that occurred after the pandemic [with] the so-called digital nomads."](https://mexiconewsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1038977_Sheinbaum-conferencia-matutina_impreso-696x462.jpg "Sheinbaum conferencia matutina")
