For the first time in its 75-year history, La Carrera Panamericana starts from a University Campus, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and will feature an autonomous car in the convoy.
The alliance between Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico) and Politecnico di Milano (Italy) brings autonomous mobility research to Mexico and Latin America, testing technology under real road conditions.
This project aims to open dialogue on how vehicles can support more sustainable and connected mobility for communities across Latin America.
Campus Santa Fe, Mexico City, October 12th, 2025.- What once seemed futuristic is now becoming reality: an autonomous vehicle is making its debut on Mexican roads, demonstrating the potential of research and innovation to transform everyday mobility. As part of the celebrations for Tecnológico de Monterrey's 50th anniversary in Mexico City and the 75th edition of La Carrera Panamericana, a historic milestone takes place: for the first time, the legendary rally sets from a university campus – Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Santa Fe campus – accompanied by an autonomous vehicle.
This milestone is made possible through an international collaboration between Tecnológico de Monterrey and Politecnico di Milano. Together, both institutions bring research out of the laboratory and onto the roads of Mexico with a vehicle that embodies cutting-edge innovation: the PoliMi autonomous vehicle will be preceded by one from the BloomDrive Intelligence Initiative, promoted by Tecnológico de Monterrey, symbolizing the collaboration between the two institutions aimed at revolutionizing the future of mobility.
On October 11th, the convoy made a symbolic stop at Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes where representatives from Tecnológico de Monterrey and Politecnico di Milano highlighted the union of cultural heritage with the future of mobility - showcasing not only the adaptability of autonomous technology to the complex reality of Mexican mobility but also the role of academia in shaping the future of transportation. Following this iconic moment, the convoy continues its journey with the official departure of La Carrera Panamericana from Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Santa Fe campus.
On the morning of October 12, the event began at 6:35 a.m. with a brief opening ceremony attended by Dr. Feniosky Peña-Mora, Dean of the School of Engineering and Sciences; Dr. Benito Mirón, Santa Fe Campus Director at Tecnológico de Monterrey; and Karen León, Director of La Carrera Panamericana.
Following the ceremony, the official flag-off took place at 7:00 a.m., with the Tec–PoliMi autonomous convoy becoming the first to leave the campus. The remaining vehicles followed at 30-second intervals, marking the start of a historic edition of the legendary rally.“For Tecnológico de Monterrey, it is an honor to contribute to La Carrera Panamericana with a vision of innovation and transformation,” said Feniosky Peña-Mora, Dean of the School of Engineering and Sciences. “This project is a living laboratory, where academia, industry, and international collaborations converge to design mobility that is safer, more sustainable, and ultimately centered on people.”
Representing Tec’s research group on Mobility, Dr. Jorge de Jesús Lozoya Santos emphasized: “Launching from Campus Santa Fe with this convoy is both symbolic and practical - it shows how research and technology can become part of people’s everyday lives. It’s about connecting tradition and innovation on a single road.”
Sergio Matteo Savaresi, Head of the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering of Politecnico di Milano, highlighted the global significance of this milestone: “It’s thrilling to see AIDA’s technology take on this new challenge, having to adapt to the context of Mexican mobility and meeting as many people as possible to show how autonomous driving technology will shape the future of our cities.”
Thanks to this initiative, La Carrera Panamericana becomes a stage where cutting-edge autonomous driving technology meets one of the most iconic competitions in the world. Starting the race from a university campus underscores the essential role of universities as engines of knowledge and transformation, while the participation of an autonomous convoy offers a glimpse into how mobility, designed for people and their prosperity, can evolve in the years to come.
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