USMCA Tightens Auto Rules: The Week in Automotive In this week’s automotive news, the USTR recommended stricter USMCA rules of origin, while Mexican plants outperformed US rivals in quality rankings. Meanwhile, BMW confirmed 2027 EV production in San Luis Potosí, Chinese vehicle sales jumped 30% in Mexico, Tornel resolved a 5-month strike, and NetShape opened a US$13.6M Querétaro facility. Shift into high gear– This week in Automotive! Tornel Strike Ends With 40-Hour Workweek Agreement After a bitter five-month strike that halted operations at four manufacturing facilities in Mexico City and the State of Mexico, workers at Mexican tire manufacturer Compañía Hulera Tornel have unanimously ratified a 15-point conciliation agreement with company management. BMW Confirms 2027 Start for Mexico EV Production BMW Group will begin assembly of its next-generation "Neue Klasse" electric vehicles and high-voltage batteries at its San Luis Potosi plant in 2027, leveraging Mexico’s global trade network to buffer against US tariff pressures and shifting market demand. USTR Presses for Tighter Auto Rules of Origin in USMCA Vehicles built in Mexico may soon have to clear a higher North American content bar. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has formally recommended that the automotive rules of origin in the USMCA be made stricter during the treaty's review cycle, targeting a regime that already sets the toughest content thresholds of any trade agreement currently in force. ZF Reaches 100 Million Electric Power Steering Unit Milestone Global automotive supplier ZF Group announced it has produced 100 million Electric Power Steering (EPS) systems worldwide, marking a significant manufacturing milestone for the company. Mexico Auto Plants Outpace US Rivals in J.D. Power Quality Study Automotive assembly facilities operating across Mexico have solidified a highly competitive standing within global manufacturing networks, with vehicle build quality at key domestic plants surpassing that