Mexico’s export boom is driven by AI technology, not vehicles – with little benefit for employment so far

By Samuel Malkun

#Mexico has emerged as a key hub in the global artificial-intelligence boom – with tech exports to the US overtaking the nation’s traditional strength in automotive assembly.  This has been better for headline economic figures than employment.

Despite trade tensions with President Trump, Mexico’s preferential access to the American market still makes it a natural assembly hub for global manufacturers. Our chart tracks the “connector economy” phenomenon: like the ASEAN nations, Mexico’s factories convert foreign-made inputs (such as high-value chips and server components) into finished tech goods.  

We’ve highlighted computers and parts trade in red on our chart. Strikingly, this sector only gains in importance from late 2024; exports have grown sixfold since early 2025, reaching almost $28 billion in August (about a third of Mexico’s total exports). Tech imports have grown almost as quickly. Meanwhile, vehicle exports have stalled.

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