DEARBORN, MI—Ford plans to eventually shift all North American small-car production from the U.S. to Mexico, CEO Mark Fields told investors last week, even though the company’s production investments in Mexico have become a lightning rod for controversy in the presidential election.

DEARBORN, MI—Ford Motor Co. will invest $1.6 billion to build a new assembly plant in Mexico for the manufacture of small vehicles. Work on the facility will start this summer in the state of San Luis Potosi, and the factory will create 2,800 direct jobs.

MEXICO CITY—Mexico is poised to overtake Brazil as the top Latin American automobile producer for the first time in more than a decade, as surging exports to the United States spur factory openings and record output.

DEARBORN, MI—Ford will to invest $168 million to move production of its 2016 F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks from Mexico to Cleveland.

SALTILLO, Mexico—Chrysler is spending nearly $1.25 billion in two assembly plants here. The investment is expected to create 1,570 jobs.

SALAMANCA, Mexico—Mazda is planning to invest $120 million to build an engine factory adjacent to its vehicle assembly plant here. The new facility will be able to produce 230,000 engines per year.

CELAYA, Mexico—Honda is planning to build a $470 million transmission assembly plant here.

QUERETARO, Mexico—Mitsubishi Electric is planning to build a $33 million assembly plant here to make starters, alternators and other auto parts.

MEXICO CITY—A decade ago, wages in Mexico were six times higher than in China. In 2011, they are only 40 percent higher. That, along with other factors, is spurring a growing number of manufacturers to move production from China to Mexico.

VAN NUYS, CA—Superior Industries International Inc., a manufacturer of aluminum wheels, is building a $135 million assembly plant in Mexico.