Key facts
- Mexico has launched Taruk, its first domestically produced electric bus.
- The Taruk project aims to localize up to 75% of its components.
- The bus has a range of up to 350 kilometers on a single charge.
- Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard highlighted the bus as a strategic advance in Mexico's industrial policy.
- 66 Taruk units are already in operation in Chetumal's public transportation system.
- US municipal authorities have expressed interest in purchasing 10,000 to 20,000 units.
Mexico is advancing its domestic electric vehicle industry with the launch of Taruk, its first fully designed, patented, and manufactured electric bus. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on Chinese manufacturers, strengthen the country's industrial base, and capture greater value from the global transition to clean transportation.
The Taruk project, led by MegaFlux for its electric traction system and Grupo PEO's DINA for vehicle design and assembly, with support from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the National Council for Humanities, Sciences and Technologies (CONAHCYT), aims to localize up to 80% of its components. The current 9.5-meter model can carry approximately 60 passengers, offers a range of up to 350 kilometers on a single charge, and can be recharged within four hours. Operating costs are noted to be significantly lower than diesel units.
Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard officially unveiled the bus, emphasizing its role in Mexico's industrial policy and the development of local capabilities in high-value manufacturing. He stated that sustained public and private investment is crucial for innovation, job creation, and technological sovereignty. Taruk has already been incorporated into the public transportation system in Chetumal, with 66 units delivered. Further deployment is anticipated, with negotiations underway for 800 units across 18 cities.
International interest in Taruk is significant, particularly from the United States. Ebrard reported that U.S. municipal authorities have expressed interest in ordering between 10,000 and 20,000 units over the next two years, following a call from Los Angeles. Despite this demand, Altagracia Gómez, president of Grupo PEO, indicated a cautious approach to scaling production, with plans to deliver up to 200 buses next year and expand the workforce from 150 to approximately 350 employees.
Roberto Gottfried, Co-Founder of Megaflux, highlighted Taruk's importance in the government's efforts to reduce emissions and strengthen national supply chains, positioning electric mobility as an opportunity for Mexico to lead in high-value technology.