MEXICO CITY (AP) — Snubbed by Tesla, Mexico’s new president pledged Friday to create a Mexican-made small, affordable electric car to compete with vehicles imported from China. President Claudia Sheinbaum said Teslas were too “onerous,” or expensive, for the Mexican market anyway. Tesla’s cheapest car, the Model 3, costs about $30,000.

Mexico's president vows to create an affordable electric car after Tesla scrapped plans for a Gigafactory in the country. The plan faces challenges.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum pledges a homegrown, affordable electric car, challenging Tesla and Chinese imports. Despite issues like lithium shortages and high power rates, Sheinbaum aims to unite Mexican companies and researchers.

La nueva presidenta de México, Claudia Sheinbaum, se comprometió el viernes a crear un vehículo eléctrico pequeño y asequible fabricado en el país para competir con los automóviles importados de China,

Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum announces plans for a small, affordable electric car to compete with imports, aiming for local production.

Claudia Sheinbaum said her government will try to bring together Mexican companies and researchers to produce a “compact, cheap electric car.”