Maxion Wheels has commissioned a new on-site solar photovoltaic system at its steel wheel manufacturing plant in San Luis Potosi, with an installed capacity of 499kW. The system, supported by 1,073 photovoltaic modules, is expected to generate approximately 919MWh of renewable electricity annually. 
Developed by Iberdrola México, the installation represents the ninth solar project implemented by Maxion Wheels globally. According to company data, the project will prevent the emission of about 617tCO₂ per year. Maxion Wheels said this reduction is equivalent to the carbon captured by more than 10,200 trees over a 10-year period. 
Maxion Wheels stated that the investments aligns with its global sustainability program, Roadmap Zero, under which the company has committed to achieving net-zero emissions across all operations by 2040. Alfonso Campos, commercial director of Iberdrola México, said on-site photovoltaic generation allows industrial operators to reduce emissions while improving cost stability. He noted that distributed renewable systems can have a direct impact across manufacturing value chains.
Alexandre Becker, president of Maxion Wheels’ Americas Business Unit, described the commissioning of the system as a significant step in the company’s sustainability and innovation agenda. He said the project reflects cross-functional collaboration within the organization and supports long-term environmental commitments.
The inauguration event included participation from Becker and Campos, alongside regional stakeholders. Attendees included Sonia Mendoza Díaz, secretary of Ecology and Environmental Management for the San Luis Potosí state government; César Lara, secretary-general of the Mexican Regional Workers’ Confederation (CROM); and Hugo Soriano, plant director of Maxion Wheels San Luis Potosí.
Located in San Luis Potosi, the Maxion Wheels facility was inaugurated in 1996 and produces steel wheels for light and commercial vehicles. The plant spans approximately 70,000m2 and supplies a range of global automotive manufacturers.
Company representatives said integrating renewable energy into manufacturing operations is increasingly relevant for automotive suppliers, as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) tighten emissions reduction targets and environmental compliance requirements across supply networks.
The San Luis Potosi installation forms part of an ongoing partnership between Iochpe‑Maxion, Maxion Wheels’ parent company, and Iberdrola México. It follows the inauguration of a photovoltaic system at Maxion’s Chihuahua facility in 2024. According to the company, a similar solar project at the company’s plant in Castaños, Coahuila, is scheduled to begin operations later this year.
The Chihuahua system, like the one in San Luis Potosi, has an installed capacity of 499kW and an estimated annual generation of 960MWh. According to company data, the project is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 420t per year, equivalent to the environmental impact of planting 6,930 trees annually.
Jorge Abraham Cicler Vadillo, Western Region Commercial Leader for Iberdrola México, said Iberdrola México’s Smart Solar solutions enable industrial clients to decarbonize processes through on-site photovoltaic generation. He added that distributed solar systems can improve operational efficiency while supporting cost competitiveness.
Both the San Luis Potosi and Chihuahua facilities manufacture aluminum wheels for light vehicles. Company representatives say renewable energy adoption is increasingly relevant for automotive suppliers as OEMs and global markets tighten environmental performance requirements across supply chains.
Maxion: Investing in Steel Wheel Production in Northern Mexico
In August 2024, Iochpe‑Maxion invested US$69.7 million to expand its Coahuila plant. The project bolstered the company’s production capacity and led to the creation of 500 new jobs in the region.
According to David García, General Director, Maxion Structural Components, the expansion reflected the successful relationship between Iochpe‑Maxion and Coahuila. “We have been in the industry for 100 years, and we have developed in a volatile market. It is a real honor to be here,” he said.
For his part, Governor of Coahuila Manolo Jiménez congratulated the company for its continued trust in the state. Jiménez emphasized that his administration is fully leveraging the opportunities presented by nearshoring and reiterated his government’s support for those who wish to work, invest, or start a business in Coahuila.
Jiménez also pointed out the key factors that have made the central region of Coahuila an attractive destination for investment, including a highly skilled workforce, available resources such as energy and water, local entrepreneurs investing in industrial infrastructure, and a strategic geographic location.

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