KIRCHHOFF Automotive has celebrated a major milestone in Mexico: the company has been manufacturing at its Querétaro plant for 25 years and has now opened a new 15,000 m² plant in San José Iturbide.
Since its launch in 1999/2000, the Querétaro plant has played a key role in the company’s growth in North America and has become a cornerstone of its activities in the region. Located near major vehicle manufacturers, the site was strategically established to meet the growing demand for high-strength metal structure components. Today, the plant employs more than 650 people and spans over 34,000 square meters.
The anniversary in Querétaro reflects a legacy of innovation, investment, and regional partnership. The Bajío region, encompassing Querétaro and neighboring Guanajuato, has become a global hub for automotive manufacturing and innovation. With its skilled workforce, strong infrastructure, and proximity to vehicle manufacturers, it continues to attract major global suppliers and KIRCHHOFF Automotive has been part of that momentum from the beginning. The South Westphalian automotive supplier’s presence in Mexico began in 1997 with a first plant in Puebla. Expansion followed in Querétaro (1999/2000), a just-in-time plant in Puebla (2008) and Hermosillo (2009, closed in 2020). A second plant in Puebla was opened in spring 2024, and now the latest KIRCHHOFF Automotive plant in Mexico has been opened in San José Iturbide.
Just eleven months after acquiring the site, the first machines and equipment moved into the 15,000 m² plant. The San José Iturbide plant, located in Guanajuato, strengthens KIRCHHOFF Automotive’s manufacturing footprint and features a state-of-the-art e-coating line to support new customer programs. Its opening marks a major step forward in capacity and reinforces our long-term commitment to growth in the region. This line represents a significant advance in the field of sustainable production. It features an innovative rinsing process and a modern evaporator system. Both significantly reduce water consumption while maintaining the highest production standards. In addition, more efficient wastewater treatment protects the environment. With the simultaneous introduction of a pickling process, KIRCHHOFF Automotive is also addressing a growing segment with increasing customer requirements. With its increasing focus on environmental sustainability and industrial innovation, Mexico has become an ideal location for the introduction of these technologies.
The opening of the new plant is an important step toward expanding capacity and reaffirms the company’s long-term commitment to growth in the region. “There we find well-trained operators, engineers and an infrastructure in which technology and science complement each other perfectly. And it is a clear long-term commitment for Mexico and our employees there”, says J. Wolfgang Kirchhoff, Chairman of the Board and CEO of KIRCHHOFF Automotive.
Today, Mexico remains one of the company’s most important locations for business worldwide. The milestones in Querétaro and San José Iturbide are a testament of the strength of the team, the trust of our customers, and the opportunities that continue to grow in this region.
