In a recent announcement, Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, reported that Italian company Brembo has moved part of its production to Mexico in order to reduce costs and delivery time of brakes to the Tesla plant located in California.
The new Mexican-based subsidiary of the Brembo has developed its operation in Escobedo, Nuevo Leon, on a 35,000 sq m site. Approximately $36 million was invested in the new plant, which has also created 500 new jobs.
The factory has the capacity to produce a maximum of 2 million pieces per year. This capability will be offered not only to Tesla but to BMW, Audi, Mercedes Benz and Cadillac.
The background of Brembo
La Brembo was founded in 1961 in Bergamo Italy. It started as a small-scale business and parts supplier for Alfa Romeo, specifically for disc brake calipers.
Nowadays the company works provides brakes for global giants such as General Motors, Ford, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes Benz, as well for some well-known racing teams competing in Formula One such as Red Bull and Mercedes AMG.
The new Mexico plant not only manufactures calipers, but also produces electric parking brakes and handbrakes for Tesla. The latter are composed of 50 pieces and measure 25 centimeters long. The innovative Tesla designed handbrakes are not activated by means of lever, like those in tradional vehicles, but by means of a button.
Production manager Mauricio Villa reported that the premium brand brakes are made of aluminum alloy, lighter than those made of iron and can be painted, which stands out through the wheel in the assembled car. For example, those that are manufacturing in the new Brembo plant for Tesla are red.
Brembo global president, Alberto Bombassei, announced an additional investment for 2017 of $93m, to start a smelter in Escobedo that will supply inputs to the Apodaca plant. It is expected that the integration of smelter and the assembly plant will produce profits for the company over $100m dollars a year.
