Tribute to Jorge Carrillo (1954-2026)

Jorge Carrillo occupies a special place in the history of the Global Network for the Study of the Automotive Industry and its Employees (GERPISA). He was one of the network’s most engaged scholars for over thirty years, playing a key role in shaping its intellectual direction, expanding its geographical reach, and enhancing its international partnerships. Following his passing in 2026, colleagues worldwide paid heartfelt tribute to him, hailing him as a “pillar” of the GERPISA community—a researcher whose productivity, generosity, and dedication were vital to the network’s growth. Carrillo joined the network in 1993 and served as a longtime member of its international steering committee. He consistently contributed to its colloquia, collective publications, and research initiatives.

His connection with GERPISA went beyond mere institutional ties—it was deeply intellectual and strategic. Starting in the 1990s, he played a crucial role in incorporating Latin American viewpoints into discussions that had primarily focused on Europe, North America, and Japan. Through his research on Mexico’s automotive industry, maquiladoras, global production networks, and multinational corporations, he demonstrated that emerging economies were essential laboratories for understanding industrial change, production models, labor relations, and regional development, not just peripheral players. His work broadened GERPISA’s comparative perspectives and strengthened its commitment to examining the automotive industry as a global system.

Carrillo's research journey has grown alongside the industry itself. In recent years, he has emerged as a leading authority on topics such as digitalization, Industry 4.0, industrial resilience, electromobility, technological partnerships, and the future of work. Through GERPISA colloquia and various publications, he has explored how automation, digital technologies, and new mobility systems are transforming production and employment in the Global South. His studies on how engineers adapt to Industry 4.0, the resilience of Mexican auto parts companies during the pandemic, and the effects of electromobility policies demonstrate his ability to link emerging technology trends with labor market and development issues. Carrillo has also taken on a significant organizational role within GERPISA.

He played an instrumental role in organizing the 24th International GERPISA Colloquium in Puebla, Mexico, in 2016. This event highlighted Latin America's growing importance in global automotive research. The colloquium brought together scholars from around the world to discuss technological advancements, labor relations, public policy, and innovation in the automotive field. His active participation underscores his broader dedication to fostering international academic collaboration and ensuring that Mexican institutions and researchers are well represented in global scholarly networks.

As a pioneer in automotive industry studies in Latin America, Carrillo played a pivotal role in establishing the field. He produced groundbreaking analyses of Mexico’s industrialization, cross-border production systems, regional development, multinational corporations, supplier networks, and labor transformation. Equally importantly, he demonstrated that rigorous empirical research from Latin America could contribute significantly to global theories. By linking local realities to international discussions, he ensured that Mexico became a vital reference point in comparative automotive research.

The story of GERPISA cannot be told without mentioning Jorge Carrillo. For over thirty years, he acted as a bridge connecting different regions, disciplines, and generations of scholars. He enriched the network’s international programs, deepened our understanding of industrial change in emerging economies, and inspired countless researchers to engage with the automotive industry as a complex social, economic, and technological phenomenon. His legacy lives on in both his extensive body of research and the vibrant scholarly community he helped create and nurture.

Alex Covarrubias