RGV leaders learn about the Texas-Mexico Automotive Supercluster initiative

WESLACO, Texas – Economic development leaders in the Rio Grande Valley have been given a crash course on the Texas-Mexico Automotive Supercluster (TMASC) initiative.

The public-private initiative was set up in 2023 by Bexar County Commissioners Court. It aims to foster economic growth and diversification in the Texas-Mexico border region by leveraging the automotive industry. 

On Monday, David E. Marquez, executive director of economic and community development for Bexar County, spoke about TMASC at UT-Rio Grande Valley’s Center for Innovation & Commercialization in Weslaco.

In the audience was Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, Cameron County Economic Development Director Ramiro Aleman, UTRGV Associate Vice President Ron Garza, along with representatives from McAllen Economic Development Corporation, RioPlex, and COSTEP.

Marquez gave a powerpoint presentation that focused heavily on a report Accenture developed for TMASC in 2024. The report showed that the main focus of TMASC is a corridor running from Dallas to Monterrey, effectively following I-35 and including San Antonio and Laredo.

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington region has Toyota, GM, Peterbilt, and Caterpillar. Austin has Tesla. San Antonio has Toyota, Navistar, and JCB. And Monterrey-Salitllo has Navistar, Daimler Truck, John Deere, KIA, and Stellantis.

In earlier reports produced for TMASC, the Rio Grande Valley appeared to be an afterthought. But its importance is given more weight in the 2024 report. It states: “Though not a home to any OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer), the Rio Grande Valley is located strategically between San Antonio and Saltillo/Monterrey and is seeing rapid income growth. With a moderate Tier 1 presence, the area could become increasingly important to the future of TMASC.”

The meeting in Weslaco was hosted by RioPlex. It was encouraged to do so by Mario Lozoya, a former director of government relations and external affairs for Toyota.

The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service interviewed Lozoya at the conclusion of the meeting. Lozoya says the Valley should align itself with TMASC.

“I think that we have to create partnerships like this one. The interest of Bexar County Economic Development to help us grow our footprint, to participate in their Supercluster is a win-win win for everybody,” Lozoya said. 

“It’s a win-win for them. It’s a win-win for us. And it’s a win-win for our partners in Mexico. So, I think it’s a good direction to take, and hopefully we get buy-in across the whole region.”

Editor’s Note: Here is a video recording of the Guardian’s interview with Lozoya:

Marquez presentation

Here are the slides from the presentation David E. Marquez, executive director of economic and community development for Bexar County, gave at the meeting in Weslaco:

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