Auto manufacturers move to Mexico

Mexico has become a superpower in cars

Automotive News estimates that just-opened and newly announced plants in Mexico from 2014 will add more than 1.5 million units of vehicle capacity there through 2019, much of it aimed at U.S. consumers. That will give Mexico the factory muscle to turn out 4.5 million cars and trucks -- roughly a 50 percent increase over the 2,934,049 units built in Mexico in 2013.

The investment in Mexico likely will turn up the competitive heat on automakers who are not moving small vehicles into Mexico -- notably General Motors, which produces its subcompact Chevrolet Sonic in Orion Township, Mich., and its compact Chevrolet Cruze in Lordstown, Ohio.

There are many factors that makes Mexico so attractive to automotive manufacturers. There are the EPA laws, OSHA laws, EEOC laws, legal liability laws and municipal zoning laws that make the US less attractive. Mexico also has much lower electricity and natural gas costs that the manufacturing plants consume in enormous quantities. 

Wake up America and get your foot off the necks of manufacturers and you will see U.S. manufacturing flourish.

President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico

President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico.
Credit Jason Szenes/European Pressphoto Agency

President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico is expected to promote a series of steps to modernize and remake the Mexican economy and raise the standard of living when he addresses the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday morning.

He has won approval to let foreign companies and investors hold a stake in Mexico’s national oil company, raising the prospect to vastly increase slackening production. He has rewritten the telecommunications law with a goal to break up the near monopoly of a few private telephone and television companies. And he has undertaken changes in the education system to lessen the grip unions hold in schools, and to improve education in Mexico, where students are far behind those in countries of similar size and levels of development. But Mr. Peña Nieto remains more popular abroad than at home, as polls show sinking approval numbers and growing impatience with the much-promoted reforms that have yet to meaningfully raise wages or the standard of living of ordinary Mexicans.

All worthy goals in my mind.

Vogue Visits San Miguel de Allende!

La Cuenta, Por Favor

The difference between factura, cuenta and recibo from...in Focus monthly newsletter
 
We thought this was an excellent explanation of the difference between factura, cuenta and recibo. Hope it helps you also.
Factura (invoice) is the proof of payment with tariff schedule; this is used among companies to know what they spent and taxes they payed.
Example: If Coca-Cola buys a truck, it requires the invoice to prove ownership and payment of government taxes.
Other example: When companies send you out of town, you are required to ask for the invoice to prove the expenses you made with the company's budget.
Cuenta (bill) is also a proof of payment, but is more related to a restaurant environment.
Example: if you go to a restaurant, you ask for the bill to know how much you'll pay as a total, NOT how much tax is charged.
Recibo (receipt) is also a proof of payment, but, in this case, it is usually used by small businesses when you make a purchase.
Example: When you buy something in GAP, ZARA, Bath and Body works, Steren, etc
Source: wordreference. com

Ex-pats Living in Baja

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Video by Horacio Jones 

"Last week I had to travel to Rosarito for a video gig, so I took the opportunity to pay a visit to a couple of friends who had moved to Baja a few of years ago. I decided it would also be a good idea to do some kind of story about ex-pats living in Baja while I was there. So I paid Shari and Fernando a visit to see what it was like for them now that they live along the Baja coast.

"During the trip we also met another Shari and an artist named Gretchen who has opened up a place called Art House Rosarito, where she lives, creates art and plans for sustainable communities. She also opens up her home to other artists to stay and work at.

"In this report they discuss what it’s like to live in baja, as well as the differences between the U.S. and Mexico. This is an expansive subject and you could certainly make a feature documentary about it, and I hope in the future to be able to make a more comprehensive report on the subject. Who knows, maybe I’ll even make the move…"

Immigration vs Emmigration

Breitbart reports that a new Pew survey of Mexicans says that 1/3 of Mexicans would like to live in U.S.: "...roughly a third (34%) still say they would move to the U.S. if they had the opportunity,..."

"Mexicans are overwhelmingly concerned with crime in their country – 79% of respondents said "crime is a very big problem in their country." In addition, "about seven-in-ten Mexicans also worry about corrupt political leaders (72%), drug cartel-related violence (72%), water pollution (70%) and air pollution (69%)." In addition, "just over six-in-ten say corrupt police officers (63%) are a top problem."

Meantime, in Senor Housing News, "...a Mexican development company sees opportunity in targeting American and Canadian seniors looking to retire in Mexico, particularly the widely popular tourist town of Puerto Vallarta.

"Through an agreement with the Las Palmas Hotel, Puerto Vallarta-based Front Beach Retirement converted the 225 rooms of the all-inclusive hotel into an independent and assisted living community, Front Beach Puerto Vallarta."

Assisted Living is about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the same care in the U.S.  Ain't freedom to live where you want grand?

Popocatépetl Volcano Activity 24 Aug 2014

Volcano Discovery writes, "The volcano had a phase of stronger activity this morning, but overall this remains similar to the past months. A discrete explosion ejected an ash plume approx 1 km high and a phase of strong steaming, possibly with some ash emissions, occurred this morning. "Glow remains visible from the crater at night, indicating the continued slow rise of magma to the summit."