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How Olinia Turns Mexico's EV Ambition into Reality

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Re: How Olinia Turns Mexico's EV Ambition into Reality

#11

Post by blovescoffee »

xutopia wrote: post #3
alephnerd wrote: post #2

Based on Olina's marketing [0], they are primarily targeting to replace auto rickshaws/three-wheelers. It isn't meant to be a direct competitor of a Nissan Versa, Chevrolet Aveo, Nissan Frontier, or a Kia K3. A better approach would have been adopting Malaysia's strategy of working on building a domestic battery platform [1], as the actual value add of an EV platform comes from the battery itself. Also, the Olina Uno…

Mexico most cabs there just have windows rolled down or even no windows at all aside from the windshield. In Mazatlan for example the most common taxi is called a pulmonia and only has a windshield and top cover but is gaz powered. This seems like a slightly longer version of the 4 seater pulomnia. I could totally see this being a great upgrade for a taxi driver there.

There's no way the average taxi driver can spend $8500 usd which is probably between 1 - 2x what they earn in a year in Mazatlan on a new electric vehicle which lacks infrastructure there. The electric vehicle "taxi" drivers in Mexico tend to be the upscale uber drivers. If you chat with taxi drivers in Mexico (I did for a bit while brainstorming startup ideas) they're squeezed between many rocks-and-a-hard-place and I don't think a new electric vehicle that underperforms Chinese ones in most ways will capture any of that market.

Re: How Olinia Turns Mexico's EV Ambition into Reality

#13

Post by culi »

725686 wrote: post #6

This is all populist BS that will lead nowhere. The current government is the most incompetent and corrupt ever. And we had a really low bar already.

I think they're doing alright. Populism seems to be working for her approval ratings since she's one of Latin America's most popular leaders:

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/07/16/mexicans-...

https://www.as-coa.org/articles/approval-tracker-mexicos-pre...

If lifting 8.3 million Mexican people out of poverty is "populism" then maybe we need more of that.

And I don't think the corruption claim is warranted. Her "Abrazos, no balazos" ("hugs, not guns") approach to dealing with gangs is taken as evidence of her being in cahoots with them but the data shows that it's clearly working. Homicides have dropped by almost half from a year ago! And other crimes have followed the same trajectory.

https://www.gob.mx/sspc/prensa/estrategia-nacional-de-seguri...

Re: How Olinia Turns Mexico's EV Ambition into Reality

#14

Post by alephnerd »

blovescoffee wrote: post #11
xutopia wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mexico most cabs there just have windows rolled down or even no windows at all aside from the windshield. In Mazatlan for example the most common taxi is called a pulmonia and only has a windshield and top cover but is gaz powered. This seems like a slightly longer version of the 4 seater pulomnia. I could totally see this being a great upgrade for a taxi driver there.

There's no way the average taxi driver can spend $8500 usd which is probably between 1 - 2x what they earn in a year in Mazatlan on a new electric vehicle which lacks infrastructure there. The electric vehicle "taxi" drivers in Mexico tend to be the upscale uber drivers. If you chat with taxi drivers in Mexico (I did for a bit while brainstorming startup ideas) they're squeezed between many rocks-and-a-hard-place and…

Depending on monthly financing, an $8500 electric rickshaw might work. I guess the big question is how much is monthly financing for a used Nissan Versa?

If I can purchase a used Nissan Versa for around $9000 and an Olina Uno for around $8500 and loan terms are roughly comparable, the used Nissan Versa would probably be the smarter purchase.

If financing for the Olina Uno cannot compete with financing for a used sedan, then I would assume that mototaxi owners would probably upgrade to a used sedan instead.

Re: How Olinia Turns Mexico's EV Ambition into Reality

#15

Post by culi »

blovescoffee wrote: post #10
MyHonestOpinon wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The current government of Mexico sells itself as a left leaning party. But it has been destroying or capturing every institution we had built to support our democracy, the separation of powers and the rule of law. From the judicial branch, the electoral institute, the transparency institute and many more.

As a left leaning guy, none of these actions are inherently not-left-leaning which seems to be your assertion. Left and right and middle can all capture institutions if left unchecked which is the case in Mexico.

I mean she passed a plan for universal basic healthcare. I'd say that's clearly left-leaning (even if a bit milquetoast). Her Abrazos, no balazos approach to crime and anti-war stances are also pretty left-leaning. I think she's clearly a left-wing figure but is moderated by trying to toe the line between US foreign policy and leftwing populism

Re: How Olinia Turns Mexico's EV Ambition into Reality

#16

Post by blovescoffee »

alephnerd wrote: post #14
blovescoffee wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's no way the average taxi driver can spend $8500 usd which is probably between 1 - 2x what they earn in a year in Mazatlan on a new electric vehicle which lacks infrastructure there. The electric vehicle "taxi" drivers in Mexico tend to be the upscale uber drivers. If you chat with taxi drivers in Mexico (I did for a bit while brainstorming startup ideas) they're squeezed between many rocks-and-a-hard-place and…

Depending on monthly financing, an $8500 electric rickshaw might work. I guess the big question is how much is monthly financing for a used Nissan Versa? If I can purchase a used Nissan Versa for around $9000 and an Olina Uno for around $8500 and loan terms are roughly comparable, the used Nissan Versa would probably be the smarter purchase. If financing for the Olina Uno cannot compete with financing for a used seda…

Very very few taxi drivers in Mexico are financing a $9000 sedan. They're mostly driving some taxi service's car and paying the service for the car or they're paying cash for a used and much cheaper car. $9000 is a lot of money for a taxi driver in Mexico.

Re: How Olinia Turns Mexico's EV Ambition into Reality

#17

Post by culi »

blovescoffee wrote: post #12

This is going to go absolutely nowhere. There's really no market for these and the govt. would rather focus on something flashy like a new car instead of infrastructure or anything that could threaten Pemex (god forbid...)

Famously, she's focused a lot of her infrastructure work on expansion of rail. Including the 5.6 trillion peso Plan México and 3,000 new km of passenger train lines. She's also remodeling the Mexico City airport, modernizing and repairing 4,000 km of roads, and pushed the National Hospital Infrastructure Plan that will fund massive expansions of three major hospital systems. Also half of the infrastructure budget is allocated to energy infrastructure. Specifically to fund her massive clean energy transition. 70% of new energy is to come from renewables.

What other infrastructure do you have in mind?

Re: How Olinia Turns Mexico's EV Ambition into Reality

#18

Post by Apocryphon »

culi wrote: post #13
725686 wrote: post #6

This is all populist BS that will lead nowhere. The current government is the most incompetent and corrupt ever. And we had a really low bar already.

I think they're doing alright. Populism seems to be working for her approval ratings since she's one of Latin America's most popular leaders: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/07/16/mexicans-... https://www.as-coa.org/articles/approval-tracker-mexicos-pre... If lifting 8.3 million Mexican people out of poverty is "populism" then maybe we need more of that. And I don't think the corruption claim is warrante…

Hey, worked for Richmond.

https://www.nlc.org/resource/reimagining-public-safety-impac...

https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/19/health/cash-for-criminals-ric...

Re: How Olinia Turns Mexico's EV Ambition into Reality

#19

Post by MyHonestOpinon »

blovescoffee wrote: post #10
MyHonestOpinon wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The current government of Mexico sells itself as a left leaning party. But it has been destroying or capturing every institution we had built to support our democracy, the separation of powers and the rule of law. From the judicial branch, the electoral institute, the transparency institute and many more.

As a left leaning guy, none of these actions are inherently not-left-leaning which seems to be your assertion. Left and right and middle can all capture institutions if left unchecked which is the case in Mexico.

That was not my intention, but thanks for clarifying it.

Now days we have to ask if political movements are committed to democracy even before we ask if the lean left or right.

Re: How Olinia Turns Mexico's EV Ambition into Reality

#20

Post by culi »

alephnerd wrote: post #4
xutopia wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mexico most cabs there just have windows rolled down or even no windows at all aside from the windshield. In Mazatlan for example the most common taxi is called a pulmonia and only has a windshield and top cover but is gaz powered. This seems like a slightly longer version of the 4 seater pulomnia. I could totally see this being a great upgrade for a taxi driver there.

Agreed! I think Olina can successfully replace pulmonias, three-wheelers, and moto-taxis, but forcing a narrative that they can replace cars will only set the project up for failure.

It's called the Olina *1*. Meaning its a first step. Focusing on a smaller market to start off makes total sense as you scale your manufacturing to prepare for larger markets
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