PEMEX (Mexican Oil Company) Opens 5 Gas Stations in USA

[US 41]

I found this very interesting. It is about a month old. All 5 PEMEX stations will be in Houston.

http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/12/03/pemex-launches-in-houston-with-first-gas-station-outside-of-mexico/#36895101=0

The current gas price at the one at 7922 Park Place Blvd is currently $1.53 per gallon which on average is cheaper than the surrounding stations, which means they are also not charging the national Mexican price.

http://www.gasbuddy.com/Station/187017

It is probably a good move by PEMEX to expand into the American market. I wonder if these gas stations are full service (like in Mexico) or self service?

[Road Hog]

Story is behind a paywall. No bueno.

[US 41]

Story is behind a paywall. No bueno.

Fixed. Changed the link from Houston Chronicle to Fuelfix. The HC article didn't work for me this morning either. I was able to read the whole article yesterday, which is kind of odd.

[AlexandriaVA]

Will they accept the Amero?

[mgk920]

Now, when will we see USA-based oil companies opening stations in Mexico?







Mike

[AlexandriaVA]

Now, when will we see USA-based oil companies opening stations in Mexico?







Mike

Probably unlikely...I think the Mexican government enforces a state-owned monopoly on petrol sales.

[Brandon]

Now, when will we see USA-based oil companies opening stations in Mexico?







Mike

Probably unlikely...I think the Mexican government enforces a state-owned monopoly on petrol sales.

Seems like this may be a test to see how they fare if Mexico decides to introduce competition for gasoline and diesel fuel sales.

[nexus73]

Now, when will we see USA-based oil companies opening stations in Mexico?







Mike

Probably unlikely...I think the Mexican government enforces a state-owned monopoly on petrol sales.

However Mexico deals with the USA is how the USA should deal with Mexico.  Fair's fair!

Rick

[US 41]

Some of my thoughts you may or may not agree with. Some of this is also off topic and not directly related to gas stations.

I feel like that under NAFTA all three countries should get together and redo some things. In Mexico, Canadian and American companies should be allowed to invest and build gas stations in Mexico. Obviously Mexico is allowed to build gas stations in the United States (and probably Canada too) as it has now happened.

(This is where I go off topic.) Some other things I think should happen. Canada and the United States should not require visas for Mexican citizens as long as they don't stay longer than 180 days for tourist purposes. In return Mexico should not require car permits for Americans and Canadians, and Mexico should either get rid of tourist cards or simply just make tourist cards free again (like they used to be before 2000).

Honestly I think Mexico would reap a lot of economic benefit if they got rid of car permits for one big reason. Most Americans don't think Mexico is safe. If they don't think somewhere is safe then they aren't going to pay $50 to drive to that unsafe place. I do notice that a lot of people will go (walk or drive) to border towns just to say they have been to Mexico. Border towns are typically the most dangerous places in Mexico. If Americans could simply drive into Mexico like they do into Canada then I think Mexico would start to see more tourism in the northern part of the country. If there was more money and more tourism coming in to the interior parts of Mexico I think we would start to see northern Mexico become safer.

Driving to the interior of Mexico is not cheap. It is currently $52 (+200-400 deposit) for a TIP, $22 for a FMM (some places do not issue the free 7 day FMM), and $30 for 4 days of the most basic liability policy from Sanborns. Basically it costs around $104 for one person just to drive to the interior of Mexico. If it cost only $30 for Mexican insurance to drive into Mexico, no TIP was required, and the FMM was free I think a lot more people would do that. Maybe that is why Baja California is so popular.

Note: A 1-4 day basic policy from Sanborns costs the same ($30). For an average family of 4 the FMM prices would be $88 if that border crossing didn't offer the free 7 day FMMs (ask kphoger about FMMs at Allende and Colombia, Colombia does have free ones, Allende does not). So finally for a family of four to drive to the interior of Mexico it would cost $170 if they didn't offer free FMMs.

To simplify my explanation here's a list for costs of a family of 4 to drive to the interior of Mexico.
*$82= TIP, free FMMs, MX Insurance
*$170= TIP, FMM (fee required), MX insurance
*$30= No TIP required, free FMMs, MX insurance (my proposal)

All of my thoughts are opinions of course, but I do think I have some valid points.

[SP Cook]

Before this gets too far off on politics, this seems to me to be more or less a gimmick.  This is not REALLY a Pemex station.  It is just another c-store, selling US refined and, given the locations, probably US origined fuels, and typical c-store foods,  made for sale in the US, with US packaging and conforming to US laws.  They have permits and licenses from the relevant state and local authorities; and pay taxes. 

It is not much different than if they built a Bob Evans in California or a In N Out in Florida.  You get a little publicity and, hopefully, a few displaced customers familiar with the brand.