16th Annual Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC) Finals

Directors Rob Sterne and Sal Bezos were the keynote speakers at the 16th Annual Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC) Finals. Their presentation, “Managing Intellectual Property Risk: Facing Cataclysmic Market, Political, and Legal Changes,” discussed approaches to minimize IP risks to mobility product supply chains while sourcing products from or through Mexico and China.

Overview

The mobility marketplace has changed dramatically with the adoption of the software-defined vehicle, often on a battery electric platform. This development has created opportunities for new OE entrants into the global mobility marketplace, whether US-based (e.g., Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, Fisker) or, more significantly, China-based (e.g., BYD). While these brands typically have some U.S.-based manufacture, as do legacy mobility OEs, many products are manufactured and assembled in Mexico, with parts sourced from or through Mexico. This includes Chinese imports into the U.S., which will increasingly enter through Mexico alongside U.S. OE products.

Recently, Mexico regained its position as the lead exporter to the U.S. overall, beating out China for the first time in two decades. It will be to the long term benefit of both Mexican and U.S. industry partners to secure this stream of commerce against IP infringers/counterfeiters. While the U.S. has a variety of tools to stop illicit goods at the point of import, it is critical to work across the southern border to stop these goods before they leave Mexico for the U.S. and other markets. During the presentation, the speakers discussed approaches to minimize IP risks to mobility product supply chains while sourcing products from or through Mexico and China.