Saltillo

Saltillo
Nickname(s): 
The Athens of Mexico, The Detroit of Mexico
Location of Saltillo within the municipality
Saltillo
Location of Saltillo in Mexico
Saltillo
Location of Saltillo in Coahuila
Coordinates: 25°25′23″N 100°59′31″W / 25.42306°N 100.99194°W / 25.42306; -100.99194
Country Mexico
State Coahuila
MunicipalitySaltillo
FoundedJuly 25, 1577
Founded asVilla de Santiago del Saltillo
Founded byAlberto del Canto
Government
  MayorJavier Díaz González
Area
  City
272 km2 (105 sq mi)
Elevation
1,600 m (5,250 ft)
Population
 (2020)
  City
879,958
  Density2,900/km2 (7,600/sq mi)
  Metro
1,031,779
  Demonym
Saltillense
GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)
  Year2023
  Total$29.4 billion
  Per capita$28,400
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
Websitewww.saltillo.gob.mx

Saltillo (Latin American Spanish: [salˈtiʝo] ) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and is also the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. Mexico City, Monterrey, and Saltillo are all connected by a major railroad and highway. As of a 2020 census, Saltillo had a population of 879,958 people, while the Saltillo metropolitan area population was 1,031,779, making Saltillo the largest city in the state of Coahuila, and the 14th most populated metropolitan area in the country. Saltillo is considered the most competitive city in Mexico for cities with over one million inhabitants. Saltillo's success is due to its strong performance in the Urban Competitiveness Index (ICU), which is developed by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO). The ICU evaluates cities based on 35 indicators, including law, society, infrastructure, labor market, political system, and innovation. Saltillo is also the safest capital city in Mexico, according to INEGI data in 2025

Saltillo is one of the most industrialized cities in Mexico and has one of the largest automotive industries in the country, with plants such as Tupy, Grupo Industrial Saltillo, General Motors, Stellantis, Daimler AG, Freightliner Trucks, BorgWarner, Plastic Omnium, Magna, and Nemak operating in the region. The city and its metropolitan area also house a large number of plants providing manufactured goods to various other multinational companies, including Tesla's new plant in Mexico, located less than an hour away in the neighboring Santa Catarina, Nuevo León also Saltillo is a prominent manufacturing hub noted for its commerce, communications, and manufacturing of products both traditional and modern.