Mexico City, Mexico — President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo led the presentation of Olinia Carga in Mexico City Wednesday. The Mexico-made cargo truck is an electric mini-vehicle with the capacity to transport up to 650 kilos and a range of more than 120 kilometers.
She said the Olinia Carga vehicle promotes mini-electromobility in the country, adding that its industrial call for production will be published at the end of September.
“The goal is to promote mini-electromobility in our country. This means special vehicles for Mexico and other countries similar to ours, designed for our country’s specific characteristics with the best engineering developed by public higher education institutions.
“These include: the National Technological Institute of Mexico, the National Polytechnic Institute, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and other autonomous universities from different states of the Republic,” she said.
She emphasized that with Olinia, the inventiveness and knowledge of young Mexican engineers are advancing, allowing future opportunities for electromobility through a complete chain that includes the training of professionals up to its production.
“The idea is that Nacional Financiera can help not only by providing loans to micro and small businesses, but also by enabling a program that finances the creativity of Mexican engineers and other professionals. And ultimately, what is it all about? Believing in Mexico, believing in Mexicans,” she added.
Sheinbaum explained that the government is committed to electromobility because it is cleaner, cheaper and more efficient, and also allows the creativity of young people to be transformed into technological development for the country.
The Secretary of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation, Rosaura Ruiz Gutiérrez, explained that the call for bids for Olinia’s industrial production will be published in coordination with Nacional Financiera (Nafin) to ensure that public and private companies participate on equal terms and with transparency.
The goal is to build a solid company with majority Mexican capital capable of producing these types of vehicles in the country.
“One of the major objectives of the science and technology policy outlined by the President of Mexico is to transform knowledge and innovation into well-being, sovereignty, and national development,” she stated.
Roberto Capuano Tripp, the Director of the Olinia project, explained that Olinia Carga, in addition to having the capacity to transport up to 650 kilos at more than 120 kilometers.
It can transport two people comfortably and safely, connects to any traditional plug, while its operating cost is four times lower than that of a light cargo vehicle and a third of what it costs to operate a motorized tricycle.
He emphasized that Olinia demonstrates that technological products can be developed in Mexico, and therefore, the call for bids for its production seeks companies with industrial capacity to contribute.
He explained that the bidding guidelines will be published at the end of September, registration will take place in October, formal bids will be received in November, and the bidding round will close in December of this year, with the goal of having Olinia Carga available for sale by the end of 2027 at a price of around 150,000 pesos.
Capuano Tripp also announced that the Olinia Van is a mini-vehicle that has the closed body of the Olinia 1 passenger van, but with a rear cabin that becomes a protected space for those who need to transport their merchandise safely.
He said they already have 8,000 units committed out of the 10,000 that Olinia projects to generate in its first year of production, with the goal of scaling up to 50,000 units per year.
Carlos Torres Rosas, the General Director of Nacional Financiera (Nafin) and the National Foreign Trade Bank (Bancomext), pointed out that with Olinia, the focus shifts from design and innovation to job creation and making Mexico a scientific powerhouse.
