Hota Industrial Manufacturing is planning to hire 350 workers in Santa Teresa
SANTA TERESA, N.M.—A major Asian auto-parts supplier is planning to construct a factory in New Mexico’s Santa Teresa Borderplex and hire 350 employees, the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) said in a release.
Hota Industrial Manufacturing, a Taiwan-based manufacturer of automotive gears for North American and European clients, including Tesla, recently signed an agreement for a 30-acre parcel in Santa Teresa’s Westpark Industrial Park. Construction is expected to begin in 2024, with future expansions possible over the coming decade. A final agreement with the state of New Mexico for assistance with the Economic Development Department is pending, according to the release.
Hota stands to qualify for incentives that include the High Wage Jobs Tax Credit and the Manufacturers Investment Tax Credit. It is also reported to qualify for job-training assistance through the Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP), and job-creation grants from the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) for land, buildings, and infrastructure.
The EDD said that investing in New Mexico’s international border to improve infrastructure and boost global trade has been a priority for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham as the state diversifies its economy.
“Hota chose New Mexico’s Borderplex because of the availability of desirable land, the workforce, and our logistical advantages that provide access to both Mexico’s factories and North American customers,” said Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes, in a statement. “Hota is one of several new companies who see New Mexico as a solution to fortify and diversify their global supply chain.”
Hota has a global footprint with facilities in Japan, Taiwan, China, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Monterey, Mexico, according to the company’s website. “Hota is the largest automotive gear transmission component company in Taiwan, with an annual production of nearly 20 million transmission gears,” according to the company.
The Santa Teresa Port of Entry is a primary crossing between the United States and Mexico, and reportedly is the first land port without a bridge structure from the East. Because of this, it serves a critical function for the El Paso and Ciudad Juarez industrial regions as the only port not limited by space or weight. The port is also clearing a growing number of regular commercial vehicles and a larger segment of private commuters, according to the release.