Auto parts maquilas recover ground here

Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.- Thanks to the growth in automobiles sales in the USA, the previously depressed auto parts industry in Juarez is posting a 45% increase in the number of workers. Yesterday, automotive companies presented data regarding automobiles sales in the United States in January and February, showing a 13% increase. Such increase extends over two years in a row of growth after a deep crisis in the automotive sector, which affected maquiladora industry in Ciudad Juarez. In the last 32 months, auto parts industry has recovered 8,821 of the 22,067 jobs lost to the crisis, i.e. a little over one third. According to data from the Mexican Social Security, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), in October 2007 auto parts industry employed 41,634 people in Juarez; however, due to the mortgage crisis in the USA automobiles sales collapsed, which seriously affected maquiladoras installed in Juarez.