The New Bajío Investment Landscape: Is Querétaro Still Competing?

(FDI) helps to quantify this competition. According to Data México, a platform from the Ministry of Economy, Querétaro received $1.055 billion USD in 2024. In the same year, Guanajuato attracted $1.426 billion USD, while San Luis Potosí registered $844 million USD. Historical perspectives also reveal differences in scale: between 1999 and 2024, Guanajuato accumulated $28.509 billion USD; Querétaro, $21.997 billion USD; and San Luis Potosí, $19.204 billion USD.

There is a relevant data point for interpreting Querétaro’s situation. Of the $1.055 billion USD received in 2024, $946 million corresponded to the reinvestment of profits, while new investments totaled $24.6 million. This breakdown allows us to distinguish between the retention of established companies and the effective arrival of new capital.

Querétaro Maintains Momentum in New Projects

Industrial activity continued through Q1 2026. By the end of the first quarter, Querétaro had finalized 10 investment projects totaling 8.131 billion pesos, with a projection of 3,479 jobs, according to records from the state’s Secretariat of Sustainable Development. The automotive sector also shows dynamism. A report by Clúster Industrial counted 11 automotive investments totaling $234.6 million USD during the first quarter of 2026, with 1,128 associated jobs. These projects encompass auto parts, semiconductors, and wiring systems. These developments reinforce a profile that has sought to combine manufacturing with higher specialization activities. Among Querétaro’s strengths are:

• Aerospace industry and associated supply chains.
• Automotive and auto parts.
• Advanced and precision manufacturing.
• Technological activities linked to digital infrastructure.

Guanajuato Preserves Scale and Expands Its Productive Base

Guanajuato maintains a strong position due to the size of its industrial ecosystem. In January 2026, the state government reported 19 projects in the automotive and auto parts sectors, with a combined investment exceeding $1.7 billion USD and a projection of 6,460 jobs. The entity also demonstrates the capacity to attract projects beyond automotive assembly. In March 2026, a new Sabritas plant was inaugurated in Celaya, part of PepsiCo’s investment strategy in Mexico. The facility required $467 million USD, according to information released about the project.

San Luis Potosí Accelerates in the Automotive Sector

San Luis Potosí sustains direct competition in automotive manufacturing. The state government reported that during 2025, the entity captured $761.8 million USD in automotive investment, equivalent to 18.2% of the national total reported by the Automotive Cluster. Its position is supported by an industrial platform linked to automakers, auto parts suppliers, and exports. This concentration represents an advantage for projects seeking rapid integration into already established automotive supply chains.

Is Querétaro Still Competing for Investment?

The data suggests yes. The difference lies in the method of competition. Guanajuato retains a greater historical scale of FDI and a robust automotive base. San Luis Potosí is gaining ground through investments tied to vehicles and auto parts. Querétaro maintains an active portfolio and a broader sectoral mix, with a presence in automotive, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and technology. For Querétaro, the opportunity lies in leveraging its specialization, talent, and industrial infrastructure to attract higher value-added projects, as the region continues to play a role as one of Mexico’s primary productive corridors.

The post appeared first on Líder Empresarial.