Ford probes work conditions at parts suppliers in China, Mexico - report
US automaker Ford Motor Co has been investigating companies it buys parts from in China and Mexico to ensure there are no sweatshop-like conditions at a vendor, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Over the last two years Ford has done assessments of working conditions at about 160 supplier plants, mostly in China, to make sure companies are following what Ford deems are international standards in areas such as child labor laws, prohibition on forced labor, health and safety rules and wages and benefits, the report said.
Ford’s program calls for examining an additional 40 supplier sites with the goal of investigating about 400 of the 2,000 supplier plants Ford buys from in 17 low-cost countries, it said.
More: forbes.com
Mexico: newspapers simultaneously publish probes into missing journalists
Dozens of Mexican newspapers have been trying to uncover information concerning slain and missing journalists but have had no luck. Now they have simultaneously published the first in a series of reports on the cases.
The first article printed by the new collective effort of Mexican and US-based Spanish-language newspapers focused on the April 2005 disappearance of Alfredo Jimenez Mota, 26, who covered drug trafficking for El Imparcial, a daily newspaper in Hermosillo, Sonora, which borders Arizona. The report suggested that area police in the investigation, some of whom were Jimenez's sources, may be
Mexico City: Forsythe Racing Saturday report
Despite traffic woes and handling issues, Forsythe Championship Racing's Paul Tracy (#3 Indeck Lola/Ford-Cosworth/Bridgestone) and Mario Dominguez (#7 Roshfrans/Indeck Lola/Ford-Cosworth/Bridgestone) managed to grab good grid positions at the sharp end of the field for Sunday's Telmex/Tecate Grand Prix of Mexico presented by Banamex here in Mexico City. The Grand Prix of Mexico is the final event of the 2005 season as Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford.
Tracy was third quickest in today's Qualifying round with a lap of 1m26.978s at 115.512mph, but will start from fourth position on the
Mexico Exports Rise 16% in June to $21.2 Bln on Autos (Correct)
Mexicos exports surged for a second month in June as sales of automobiles helped regain U.S. market share lost to China.
Exports climbed to $21.2 billion from $18.3 billion a year earlier, after reaching a record $22.71 billion in May, according to a Finance Ministry report. Mexico posted a trade deficit of $417 million in June, the report said. Imports rose 17.9 percent from a year earlier to $21.7 billion.
Source : bloomberg.com
Illegal migrants had jobs back in Mexico, survey finds
Most illegal immigrants from Mexico had jobs there before they entered the United States, according to a report released Tuesday.
That conclusion undercuts a long-held explanation for illegal immigration: that people can't find work at home. Instead, illegal Mexican immigrants are driven here by a complex assortment of factors, including higher wages, better working conditions and a chance to reunite with growing networks of families who settled in the United States before them, according to researchers with the Pew Hispanic Center in Washington.
"Lack of work does not appear to be the main
Mexicos Comerci net seen up on strong operations
Comercial Mexicana, one of the countrys largest retailers, will likely report a 35 percent rise in net profit for the second quarter thanks to a rise in sales and operational improvements.
Known by investors as Comerci (COMERCIUBC.MX: Quote, Profile, Research) (MCM.N: Quote, Profile, Research), the company should report a net quarterly profit of 302 million pesos ($27 million), according to the average estimate of five analysts consulted by Reuters.
Comerci, which is expected to report better results from its updated distribution operations and better negotiations with suppliers, is scheduled to report its quarterly results on
Mexico City: Forsythe Racing race report
In a chaotic event marked by passes, penalties and punts, Forsythe Championship Racing matadors Paul Tracy (#3 Indeck Lola/Ford-Cosworth/Bridgestone) and Mario Dominguez (#7 Roshfrans/Indeck Lola/Ford-Cosworth/Bridgestone) locked horns with the best drivers in the world at the final event of the 2005 season as Bridgestone presents the Champ Car World Series powered by Ford, Round 14 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in the heart of Mexico City. It was a mix of sweet and sour as Tracy came from deep in the field not once but twice to score an astonishing third place finish while home
China promises to crack down on Chinese contraband in Mexico
Chinese President Hu Jintao promised Mexican President Vicente Fox on Monday that his country would crack down on the millions of dollars worth of Chinese contraband entering this country, goods that undermine Mexican businesses from sandal makers to religious icon sellers.
During his three-day state visit, his first since Fox took office in December 2000, Hu pledged that his government would investigate all complaints Mexico passed along, including tracking down and punishing specific companies that allegedly smuggle in the goods, a Fox spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity.
Fox mentioned
HBPO Opens New Manufacturing Plant in Mexico
HBPO GmbH, a joint-venture company formed by automotive suppliers Hella, Behr and Plastic Omnium, has opened a new 12,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Hermosillo, Mexico.
The facility will produce front-end modules for the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr models built at Ford Motor Company's Hermosillo assembly plant. The HBPO facility employs 42 people and has an annual production capacity of more than 220,000 front-end modules.
The Hermosillo plant is HBPO's second facility in Mexico. The company also operates a plant with more than 110 employees in Puebla that supplies front-end modules for Volkswagen
Mexico City: Lola race report
WILSON CAPS SEASON WITH SECOND CHAMP CAR VICTORY
Leads teammate Allmendinger for first RuSPORT 1-2 sweep
Justin Wilson used his superior #9 Intel Lola/Ford-Cosworth/Bridgestone Champ car to perfection on the 2.786-mile Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course in Mexico City, winning the 2005 Champ Car World Series season finale Gran Premio Telmex/Tecate presented by Banamex 70-lap contest in fine fashion.
The lanky Briton led 65 of 70 laps from pole, turned the fastest tour of the contest and crossed the finish line with 3.936 seconds to spare on teammate A.J. Allmendinger's Western Union Lola. Wilson secured third
Hirvonen confident for Mexico
Mikko Hirvonen says he is confident of securing a strong result as the World Rally Championship heads to Mexico next weekend for the third round of the year.
After the tarmac of Monte Carlo and the snow of Sweden, Rally Mexico will be the first gravel event on the 2006 calendar – and Hirvonens first gravel rally with the 2006 spec Ford Focus RS WRC06.
However, a two-day test session in Spain had left the Finnish driver confident of a strong performance in the event – which will be his first gravel outing since Rally Japan last season when
