Teresa Gutiérrez Smith Named Tesla’s New Country Manager for Mexico
Tesla has announced the appointment of Teresa Gutiérrez Smith as its new Country Manager for Mexico. Gutiérrez, who brings over 20 years of experience in transnational companies such as Nestlé, Mattel, Procter & Gamble, and Rappi México, will lead the expansion of the brand in the Latin American region, according to sources close to WIRED en Español.
The news comes at a critical juncture for Tesla, with the construction of the gigafactory in Nuevo León, which is set to begin assembling electric vehicles in the first quarter of this year. The initial investment of 5 billion dollars in the gigafactory could reach more than 10 billion dollars, as confirmed by the Ministry of Economy (SE).
Gutiérrez, a chemical engineer with a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Management, joins Tesla during a significant period of growth for the company. With her leadership, Tesla aims to boost the production of electric vehicles in the region and strengthen its presence in the Latin American market.
Moreover, Tesla’s strategic project in Mexico focuses on an extensive land in Santa Catarina, where tycoon Elon Musk intends to invest around $6 billion to build a megaplant dedicated to the manufacturing of electric vehicles. This facility is expected to generate up to 7,000 direct jobs and have the capacity to produce one million cars per year.
This megaplant will be a significant addition to Tesla’s global operations, with the company’s other international production centers located in Shanghai and Berlin, and the rest of its factories in the United States. With this new infrastructure in Mexico, Tesla seeks to consolidate its global presence and respond to the growing demand for electric vehicles in the region.
Simultaneously, the Colombian delivery platform Rappi has announced a change in the direction of its division in Mexico, with Iván Cadavid Silva appointed as the new CEO in Mexico, succeeding Teresa Gutiérrez.
The arrival of Teresa Gutiérrez Smith at Tesla is expected to further elevate the company’s standing in the electric vehicle industry in the Latin American region and contribute to its continued expansion and growth.