Enacted in 1992, the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, both facilitated trade between the U.S. and Mexico and eased business relations between the neighboring countries. The agreement also provided American companies with various incentives to nearshore manufacturing to Mexico.
Besides trade relations, there are multiple other reasons U.S.-based companies are expanding in Mexico. One of the most important is Mexico’s skilled and educated workforce. This results from the local education system prioritizing STEM disciplines, which has produced thousands of engineers, software developers and scientists.
Below are some of the U.S.-based companies that are also excelling in Mexico.
Top US Companies with Offices in Mexico to Know
- General Motors
- BigCommerce
- Arrow Electronics
- Lyft
- Intel
- Honeywell
- Ford Motor Company
Top US Companies With Offices in Mexico
BigCommerce helps businesses of all sizes reach and sell to customers online. Its platform provides tools and solutions for developing digital storefronts, processing payments and marketing to customers. BigCommerce extends past the digital world and also develops point-of-sale solutions for retail locations.
Pangea Money Transfer’s mobile app lets users securely send money to people in other countries, offering delivery options that include bank or debit card deposit and cash pickup. The platform comes with features for scheduling recurring transfers and ensuring money goes directly to paying an international bill.
Molex manufactures electronic and fiber optic connectivity systems used in the automotive and medical industries. In 2022, the Illinois-based company invested $130 million in a Guadalajara facility, which doubled Molex’s Mexican footprint. The facility uses robotics and automation to ramp up manufacturing of its products and optimize its supply chain.
Motive’s array of IoT hardware and software solutions have uses for industries such as construction, oil and gas, logistics, agriculture and passenger transit. For example, the company offers equipment monitoring products that provide businesses with insights to help improve utilization and combat theft by keeping track of machinery location.
Globally, Mexico is one of the top soft drink consumers, making it a strategic destination for PepsiCo. In Mexico, the company operates a mix of manufacturing and corporate offices, which support its various products and brands, including Lays, Doritos and Mountain Dew.
Arrow Electronics, which caters to both businesses and individuals through its hardware and services, has a global presence and multiple electrical company facilities in Mexico. Through its various brands, the company develops everything from batteries to microcontrollers and processors. Additionally, Arrow Electronics provides cloud and security services through its skilled tech workforce.
Kraft Heinz has international reach in the food and beverage industry. The company sells products through both retail and foodservice channels, and its diverse family of brands includes well-known names like Oscar Mayer, Lunchables, Velveeta, Jello-O, Capri Sun and Maxwell House.
Warner Bros. Discovery operates a global family of brands across gaming, network television, streaming and film production. Although it’s headquartered in New York, Warner Bros. Discovery has team members working in multiple countries, including Mexico where it’s capitalizing on talent in areas such as technology and communications.
McDonald’s has international reach in the foodservice industry. The company’s operations largely rely on the work of its Global Technology arm, which builds and optimizes solutions to support customers and employees. That effort extends to Mexico where the company has been expanding its team of software engineers and other digital experts.
AlertMedia builds technology to support safe, resilient workplaces. Its product portfolio includes solutions that allow organizations to communicate amid emergency incidents, keep traveling employees informed about risks and enable 24/7 monitoring of employees in high-risk work environments. AlertMedia serves businesses of all sizes across more than 130 countries.
Honeywell is a global technology and manufacturing company with offices in 80 countries. Its extensive product and service lineup includes sustainable aviation fuel, automation software and robotics systems. Honeywell’s Mexican presence consists of an office in Mexico City, contributing to its aerospace and building technology endeavors.
Intel designs and manufactures computer components, including semiconductors and personal computers. The company’s headquarters are in Silicon Valley, but it also operates two offices in Mexico, one in Mexico City and another in Guadalajara, Mexico’s own Silicon Valley. Those offices focus on supporting Intel’s server hardware and software development projects.
The popular ride-sharing app Lyft operates a software engineering center in Mexico City. Opened in 2022, the center was the company’s first venture into Latin America and helps solve complex problems in collaboration with U.S.-based team members. Lyft’s Mexico City office is in the Torre Reforma building.
Udemy’s marketplace platform makes digital learning accessible with skills-based classes available. The company has an Intelligent Skills Platform that has an AI-powered Skills Mapping Program and learning assistant. These allow users to understand what upskilling will be most impactful for them. Udemy has plans for an office hub in Mexico City.
Medtronic operates in 160 countries and aims to develop medical technologies and services to alleviate pain, restore health and extend life. Its products, including medical devices and therapies, are found in care and surgical centers.
Ford is one of the most popular automobile brands in Mexico, and its parent company, Ford Motor Company, has an array investments in the country. The company operates several manufacturing facilities in Mexico where it produces engines and transmissions for its vehicles. It also recently opened a global tech center outside of Mexico City that hosts over 9,000 hybrid employees.
Owner of several popular car brands, including Chevrolet and GMC, General Motors, or GM, is a leading auto manufacturer with a rich history. Besides designing and manufacturing traditional gas-powered vehicles, GM is an automotive innovator contributing to developing electric vehicles, autonomous driving and safety technology. General Motors is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, and has corporate offices, manufacturing facilities and engineering centers in Mexico.
TigerConnect is a healthtech company offering a communication platform designed to streamline collaboration so providers can improve productivity and patient care. The company maintains its headquarters in California, but also has a growing international presence that includes team members based out of Mexico City.
TransUnion’s technology helps consumers stay on top of credit score changes as well as prevent and respond to identity theft. The company also offers solutions for businesses, including TruContact for customer outreach and TruVision for risk management. Mexico is one of several Latin American countries where TransUnion has operations.
