TMASC Economy Continues Growth as Sophisticated Automotive Manufacturing Location

July 12, 2011 - The region's resilient and robust economic growth continues to strengthen TMASC's strategic position for automotive-related manufacturing and research. Recent highlights include new data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis that illustrates a 26.8% increase from 2000 in Texas' GDP. With GDP at $1.2 trillion, the Texas economy ranks as number two in the nation.

In addition, for the first time in recent years, industry bellwether Automotive News published a special report titled, "The Mexican Evolution: How Mexico became a major player [in automotive]" on June 27, 2011. The articles sites Mexico's transformation from a low-cost, low-skill, low-tech location into a "sophisticated manufacturing and export hub." 

There's no doubt that TMASC's manufacturing and market growth are changing the geography of the automotive industry.

David Marquez, Executive Director of Bexar County's Economic Development Department (BCEDD) continues to provide TMASC updates on recent developments and forecasts to regional organizations and companies to expand collaborations, highlight opportunities, and strengthen recruitment and retention efforts.

Below is a list of recent presentations. To receive a regional update, please contact BCEDD's Strategic Initiatives Division at (210) 335-0892. 

• Texas: Gateway to the U.S. - June 2011
• Chinese Auto Parts Industry Forum on American Market Business Development Strategy - June 2011
• Texas Rural Challenge Conference - June 2011
• Asociación de Empresarios Mexicanos (Adobe .pdf available)- June 2011
• TMASC Supply Chain Forum - May 2011
• China Association of Automotive Manufacturers - May 2011

About the Texas-Mexico Automotive SuperCluster Region (TMASC)

TMASC is a collaborative strategy aimed at developing and diversifying the automotive industry throughout the Texas-Northeastern Mexico five-state region to generate long-term economic benefits. Major components of TMASC include: foreign direct investment, business retention and expansion, research and development, and workforce development. 

A result of TIP Strategies’ Texas/Northeastern Mexico Vehicle Manufacturing Industry study, TMASC was created to leverage the changing geography of automotive assembly and automotive markets in North America, as well as build upon the region’s existing global brands and innovative assets.

Already well-positioned, the region hosts nine global vehicle manufacturers and over 200 Tier 1 original equipment suppliers who employ 133,000 workers and occupy almost 37 million square feet of facilities. To complement production strength, the region provides companies with a strategic logistics infrastructure to move Asian and Latin American goods into production facilities and to move finished goods into central, central eastern and Atlantic markets.