The research project will address two main interrelated issues: (1) the impact of the new trade agreement with US and Canada: its effects inside the country and its cross-country impact on the automotive global value chain; (2) the impact of the digital technological transformation: its quantitative and qualitative impact on labour skills, and the potential linkages of such transformation across other sectors in the Mexican economy. The research on the Mexican automotive value chain can contribute to our understanding to which extent the narrative of the potential disruptive impact of Industry 4.0 on organizations is transforming companies' internal organization and network relations. Moreover, it provides hindsight on the expected effects on the Mexican automotive industry of changes in international trade, regional agreements, and the rise of new global players. Because of its importance for the Mexican economy, understanding the ongoing changes in the automotive industry and outlining trends in its transformation is of utmost relevance for supporting informed policies, at country-level and at state-levels. Policy measures are a determining factor for the direction of technological development, enhancing the benefit for economy and society in Mexico.
