Friction One Opens New Brake Pad Plant in Mexico

We are thrilled to announced the opening of our new brake pad and rotor production facility in Juarez, Mexico. This plant was acquired earlier this year from DRiV and is part of Friction One’s strategy to expand its manufacturing footprint in North America.

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Market Impact

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The Juarez plant plays a significant role in Friction One’s manufacturing expansion. With over two decades of expertise in private label friction manufacturing, we are focusing on automation and advanced quality systems to enhance production speed, consistency, and performance.

Product Development

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The facility will produce brake pads, brake discs and CV blocks, serving both aftermarket and original equipment (OE) customers. For 2025, capacity estimates include 10 million sets of brake pads per year, 1.5 million brake discs and 1 million CV blocks. We expect brake pad production to increase to 16 million sets annually by 2026.

Retaining the Workforce

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Friction One retained 95% of the plant’s staff from its previous ownership, ensuring continuity in expertise and production. The plant’s workforce includes operators, managers, engineers and supply chain professionals, strengthened by the integration of engineers and operations leaders from Friction One’s global team.

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Executive Perspective

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“We are very excited to host both long-term customers and some new friends in the industry that we hope to work with,” said Jim Zhang, owner and CEO of Friction One. “We are investing heavily in the new North American plant to maximize its potential, and we are aiming for a 60% increase in unit production from Juarez by this time next year.”

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“The addition of this location marks just the beginning of our global strategy and widespread geographic footprint,” said Yogi Coudhary, COO of Friction One.

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Customer-Focused Growth

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During the grand opening, guests toured the production floor, featuring newly-installed automated positive mold press machines and fully automated grinding and painting lines. The Juarez plant will contribute significantly to meeting the increasing demand for high-quality, copper-free brake pads and components.