Q: Vitro operates across several industries. How does the company differentiate its value proposition in the global glass industry?

A: Vitro operates across four main industries: construction, through our Vitro Architectural division; packaging, through Vitro Containers; automotive, through Vitro Automotive; and the chemical industry, through Vitro Alcali. 

Within this portfolio, Vitro Automotive — which I have the privilege to lead — focuses its value proposition on three key pillars. First, a strong customer-centric culture, driven by a deep understanding of our customers’ needs and long-term requirements. Second, the continuous development of technologies and products enables us to offer a comprehensive and evolving portfolio aligned with our customers’ expectations. Third, the design of our manufacturing footprint and production processes to ensure we remain a highly competitive and reliable supplier, capable of supporting both current and future industry demands.

Q: What technological advantages or manufacturing capabilities has the merger with PGW in 2017 created, and how is Vitro addressing industry trends such as AI and automation?

A: The integration of PGW in 2017 was a transformational step for Vitro, significantly strengthening both our technological capabilities and our manufacturing footprint in automotive glass.

From a technology standpoint, it enabled us to expand into advanced, high-value products, enhancing our capabilities in coatings, complex glass geometries, and solutions for increasingly sophisticated vehicle platforms. From a manufacturing perspective, the integration gave us a more balanced and flexible footprint across North America, enabling us to serve our customers more efficiently, at scale, and with greater proximity.

At the same time, we recognize that adopting AI  and continuing to automate our processes are essential to remain competitive in the industry. As a result, we are actively incorporating automation and data-driven technologies across our operations to improve quality, consistency, and productivity.

Q: How is Vitro evolving its product portfolio to meet growing demands for performance, sustainability, and customization in the automotive industry?

A: The automotive industry is evolving rapidly, with increasing demands for higher performance, greater sustainability, and more customized solutions, and our product portfolio is evolving accordingly. From a performance standpoint, vehicles are incorporating larger, more complex glass surfaces that require advanced engineering, precision, and integration with vehicle systems. We are developing solutions such as head-up display windshields, advanced coatings for thermal and solar control, and glass compatible with ADAS technologies, where optical clarity and accuracy are critical.

In terms of sustainability, we are focused on improving energy efficiency through our products, particularly for electric vehicles, advancing recycling initiatives, and working closely with our customers to support their carbon-reduction goals. Finally, customization is becoming increasingly important, as glass is now a key design and functional element in modern vehicles. This requires greater flexibility in design, coatings, and functionalities, and we work closely with our customers to co-develop tailored solutions that meet their specific requirements.

Q: How important is R&D for Vitro, and what sustainability initiatives is the company prioritizing?

A: R&D is a fundamental pillar of our strategy, particularly in the automotive business, where technology and innovation are key differentiators. We have dedicated R&D centers, including facilities in the European Union and the United States, focused on developing next-generation glass solutions aligned with evolving industry requirements. These capabilities enable us to work closely with our customers from early-stage development through to industrialization, particularly in advanced coatings, head-up display technologies, and ADAS-compatible solutions.

Sustainability is equally critical and fully embedded in our strategy. We are focused on increasing the use of recycled glass, improving energy efficiency across our operations, and advancing our transition toward renewable energy sources. In addition, we collaborate with our customers to support their carbon-reduction and sustainability goals, ensuring that both our products and processes contribute to a more sustainable automotive ecosystem.

Q: How does Vitro address talent shortages in the automotive and industrial sectors?

A: Talent is one of our most critical strategic priorities, particularly in an industry that is becoming increasingly technology-driven and complex. We address talent challenges through a combination of long-term development, strategic partnerships, and strong retention. We maintain close collaboration with leading universities in Mexico and the United States, enabling us to build a pipeline of highly skilled professionals while contributing to research and innovation.

At the same time, we invest significantly in developing our internal talent, ensuring our teams continuously evolve alongside industry demands. One of our key strengths is long-term employee retention, which enables us to preserve critical knowledge and experience while integrating new capabilities. Ultimately, we see people as a key differentiator, and our focus is on building an organization that can both attract top talent and develop it over the long term.

Q: What are the main advantages and challenges of operating in Mexico’s automotive industry?

A: Mexico offers a strong competitive advantage in the automotive industry, primarily due to its well-established manufacturing ecosystem. This includes a skilled workforce, deep industry know-how, and a highly integrated supplier base that supports both vehicle assembly and component production.In addition, Mexico’s proximity to the United States and its participation in trade agreements such as USMCA make it a strategically important location for serving the North American market

At the same time, the industry is facing increasing challenges. Supply chain disruptions, labor constraints, and geopolitical uncertainty have reduced predictability and increased complexity across operations. What was once a relatively stable, forecast-driven environment now requires significantly greater agility. Production planning and decision-making must adapt more frequently, often every quarter or even shorter cycles. In this context, success depends on operational flexibility, strong execution, and the ability to navigate an increasingly dynamic and uncertain environment.

Q: How is Vitro managing tariff risks and evolving trade dynamics in the automotive industry?

A: We manage tariff risks and evolving trade dynamics primarily through operational flexibility and a balanced manufacturing footprint. With production capacity in both Mexico and the United States, we can adapt our operations to changes in trade policies or agreements, such as USMCA. While adjusting production across regions involves cost and complexity, this flexibility allows us to mitigate risk and maintain continuity of supply for our customers.

In parallel, we maintain close engagement with government authorities and industry stakeholders to stay aligned with regulatory developments and to ensure that automotive components continue to benefit from existing trade frameworks. Ultimately, our approach is to combine operational adaptability with proactive engagement, allowing us to navigate an increasingly complex and dynamic trade environment.

Q: What are some long-term trends shaping the automotive supply chain?

A: Several long-term trends are reshaping the automotive supply chain, with regionalization being one of the most significant. Companies are increasingly prioritizing production closer to end markets to reduce geopolitical risk, improve resilience, and enhance supply chain reliability.

At the same time, the industry is becoming more complex and technology-driven. The shift toward electrification, autonomous driving, and connected vehicles is increasing the need for more sophisticated components and closer collaboration between suppliers and OEMs.

Another important trend is the growing focus on supply chain resilience and flexibility. The disruptions of recent years have shown that efficiency alone is not enough — companies must be able to adapt quickly to changing conditions. Finally, sustainability is becoming a structural requirement. Customers and regulators are placing greater emphasis on reducing carbon footprints, which is driving changes in sourcing, production processes, and logistics.

Together, these trends are transforming the supply chain from a cost-focused model into a more integrated, resilient, and technology-driven ecosystem.

Q: What are Vitro Automotive Glass strategic priorities for the next few years?

A: Our strategic priorities are focused on strengthening our competitive position while preparing for the evolving demands of the automotive industry. First, we continue to invest in our people, as talent remains a key differentiator in an increasingly complex and technology-driven environment. Second, we are focused on strengthening our presence in our core markets, ensuring best-in-class performance in quality, service, and cost competitiveness, while maintaining proximity to our customers. Third, we are accelerating our participation in high-value, technology-driven segments, aligning our capabilities with key industry trends such as electrification, advanced driver assistance systems, and next-generation vehicle platforms.

In parallel, we continue to optimize our manufacturing footprint and supply chain to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and scalability across our operations. Together, these priorities provide a clear framework for sustainable growth, ensuring we remain a relevant and competitive partner in a rapidly evolving industry.

Q: Where do you see the greatest growth opportunities for Vitro, both globally and within Mexico?

A: In recent years, Vitro has made significant investments across all its business units, strengthening our capabilities and positioning the company for sustained growth. Vitro Automotive has focused on expanding and modernizing its windshield furnace capacity and increasing our coatings capabilities to support more advanced, value-added products aligned with evolving industry requirements.

In Vitro Architectural, we continued to invest in coated glass technologies to reinforce our leadership in the construction industry, while also expanding into the solar sector, positioning the company to participate in a new and strategically important growth segment aligned with global sustainability trends. In Vitro Containers, we recently expanded our production capacity with the addition of a new furnace, further strengthening our position in the glass packaging market. Finally, in Vitro Alcali, we have increased our capacity for calcium chloride production and upgraded key equipment to maintain high quality standards and competitiveness.

Together, these investments provide a strong foundation for Vitro to capture growth opportunities and continue strengthening its position across both domestic and international markets.