The date June 23 is a truly special day for me, and for everyone at Ford of Mexico. It's our 100th anniversary in this incredible country — a whole century since Ford first became Mexico's very first automaker. As the head of Ford here in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America, and the Caribbean, I feel incredibly proud when I look back at how far we've come and think about what's next.

Our story here is deeply woven into Mexico's own industrial growth. From that first small plant in San Lázaro way back in 1925, Ford assembled cars and helped build an entire industry. We helped grow the auto parts sector and made the "Made in Mexico" label something people around the world recognized for quality. Over the years, we've opened more facilities and grown quite a bit. Today, we're a family of over 14,000 dedicated people, supported by 113 Ford and Lincoln dealers across the country.

Ford of Mexico is so much more than just a place where we build and sell vehicles. It’s a global hub for talent and new ideas. Our teams here are involved in everything from designing and developing vehicles to testing them out, working closely with our worldwide supply chain.

Mexico is also a key place for global services, where our teams share their expertise in areas like IT, product development, finance, and marketing with Ford around the world. Our Global Technology and Business Center (GTBC), which opened in 2022, is a fantastic example of this.

It's home to one of Latin America's largest Automotive Engineering Centers and attracts top talent who are literally shaping the future of how we all get around. And of course, we're proud to assemble high-quality vehicles right here, like the Mustang Mach-E, Ford Maverick, and Bronco Sport.

As we celebrate our past, we're also really focused on what's ahead. Our commitment to Mexico goes far beyond just making great vehicles. For 59 years, through our partnership with the Civic Committee of Ford, Lincoln, and our dealers, we've invested deeply in education — building and taking care of 212 primary schools across the country.

We’ve also got some big news for our "Educación en Movimiento" program. We're adding another $2 million to our scholarship fund, bringing the total to $3.4 million. This incredible investment, supported by Ford Philanthropy and our Civic Committee, means even more support for deserving students, helping them pursue their educational dreams from primary school all the way through university. It's all about helping to raise Mexico's future leaders.

We're also building two new primary schools in more communities — School No. 213 in Mexicali, Baja California, and School No. 214 in the State of Mexico, right near our GTBC. And to show our continued commitment, we're giving Ford School No. 1 in León, Guanajuato, a full makeover. It's a reminder that we're always looking after all 212 schools we've built over the last almost 60 years.

Beyond our community work, we're also thinking about how to keep our business fresh and growing. Mexico has been a strong market for us, especially with our SUVs, pickup trucks, and commercial vehicles. Because we're doing so well here, we're excited to expand our Ford Pro commercial vehicle business toward the end of this year.

Ford Pro will be a reliable partner for Mexican businesses, helping them get more done and work smarter by giving businesses everything they need — from a great selection of commercial vehicles to smart software and services that help them run things smoothly, cut costs, and see exactly what their fleet is doing. This includes full maintenance and repairs using genuine parts, so businesses can stay focused on their work.

This amazing 100-year journey is all thanks to the incredible skills and dedication of our Mexican team. It really shows how strong the partnership is between Ford, our employees, dealers, customers, and the communities we're part of.

As I look out at Mexico, I see so much potential and a really bright future. Ford of Mexico is ready to lead the way into our next century, helping to build a better future not just for Mexico, but for everyone. We're proud of our past, excited about today, and looking forward to a bright future where we keep moving forward, together.

Lucien Pinto is president and chief executive officer of Ford of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America, and the Caribbean.