Meritor Automotive yesterday inaugurated its first wholly-owned Mexican Heavy Vehicle Systems assembly plant.

Located in Queretaro, Mexico, the plant is dedicated to supplying Mexico-based commercial truck OEM customers with heavy-duty components and systems, initially drive axles and drivelines.
The new Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems Mexico S. A. de C.V. plant is the second plant for Meritor in Queretaro and its fourth plant in Mexico.
Representing an initial capital investment of more than $3 million, the 120,000-square-foot plant presently employs 40 people and the number of employees could increase depending on business volumes.
During opening ceremonies, Meritor HVS President Prakash Mulchandani said, "Today, Mexico is among the world's leading growth markets for heavy trucks and components, and as a premier supplier, we are pleased to participate in its expansion by increasing our capabilities to better serve our customers. Our new plant illustrates that our valued business with Mexico's heavy vehicle OEMs makes it possible for us to invest in Mexican plants and in talented people, resulting in increased domestic content and domestic employment."
According to Pelaez, the Queretaro plant provides local customers with just-in-time delivery and enhanced service, while its production flexibility enables the company to respond quickly to OEM customer requests, resulting from ratio modifications, line-sequence revisions and other last-minute changes.
The new plant has the capability to expand its production to include other medium- and heavy-duty truck components, including front steer axles, trailer axles, foundation brakes and complete braking systems, in addition to other components.