The federal project Olinia announced by President Claudia Sheinbaum will have the participation of students and staff of the Technological Institute of Merida.”
“Students and staff of the Technological Institute of Merida (ITM) announced that they will participate in the federal project called Olinia, which will involve public and private capital and is expected to be on sale in 2030. “The project seeks to facilitate mobility in cities and reduce emissions, this was announced by the Government of President Claudia Sheinbaum, the aim is to create the first Mexican assembler of electric mini-vehicles, named Olinia,” said José Antonio Canto Esquivel, director of the “Tec de Merida“. He said that the ITM actively participated in the Expo Movilidad 2024, where they presented their prototype of an electric vehicle developed a few years ago. This event was a key platform for the institution to make itself known within the field of electric mobility and, consequently, to be selected to collaborate in the Olinia project.
The Director explained that, after the Federal Government announced the project, the Institute was consulted by the Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation of Yucatan to evaluate the possibility of entering the project. “We were officially informed last Wednesday, January 8th, and on Friday the 10th, we received the formal invitation to work together with the Instituto Superior de Tecnológicos de México,” Canto Esquivel explained.
He indicated that the ITM will collaborate with the Crode (Regional Center for Optimization and Development of Equipment), who will be in charge of key aspects such as technological development and maintenance of the vehicles that will be produced within the framework of the Olinia project. “We are in the stage of defining the personnel that will be part of this team.
Together with the Crode, we will prepare a comprehensive proposal that includes everything from the manufacture of the vehicles to marketing and the purchase of materials necessary to carry out the project,” said Canto Esquivel. He specified that the objective of the project in this first year is to have a functional prototype of the vehicles ready.
The development plans include the creation of three types of electric vehicles: a compact one, a family one -four people- and a cargo one.
He indicated that the project not only focuses on the creation of the vehicles but covers the entire production process,
from manufacturing to staff training and resource management. “We need to be prepared to address all areas of the project, including regulation and marketing. We already have proposals for professors and specialists to integrate the team,” he added.
He stressed that another of the most relevant objectives for the ITM in this project is to align itself with the global trend of electromobility. “The global idea is that by 2030 electric vehicles will be massively implemented, and it is key that our students are trained in these technologies,” he said.
In this sense, the ITM is looking for new specialties and courses related to electromobility, to prepare young people in the region for the technological challenges that this field presents. In addition, the rector highlighted that this project can be the spearhead for future investments in Yucatan since the state has the resources and capabilities to attract electric vehicle assembly plants.
Canto Esquivel also stressed that participation in the Olinia project is an excellent opportunity to strengthen local talent. “It is essential that when the vehicles arrive in the state, we can count on locally trained personnel to service and maintain these vehicles.
This project puts us in a privileged position to be part of an industry that is constantly expanding,” he concluded.
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