Gregorio Ramirez Gonzalez
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Gregorio Ramírez González was a Mexican-born entrepreneur. He was born in Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo León, México on March 30, 1913, and died on the 4th of February 2002 in Monterrey, México. He was born into a poor family whose main income came from a small town store owned by his father. He never ended his studies at 5th grade. He decided to move to Monterrey, leaving his family back in Sabinas Hidalgo to work at his uncle's restaurant. He married María Jáuregui and procreated five children: Juan Gregorio, Guillermina, Clara, Gloria, and Rosa. After he had got married, he began working at an automobile dealership to gain more money. After a couple of years working at the dealership, he met several customers that wanted some trucks, and from there on he began learning about trucks and buses.
Business ventures
In 1946, he started a small trailer shop in San Nicolás de Los Garza, Nuevo León, which then became the huge Grupo Industrial Ramirez, a leader in the Mexican automotive industry. With companies like IASA, IMMSA, Autobuses Sultana, Trailers y Tractocamiones Ramírez, GIR, S.A. They became leaders in their area participating in joint ventures with Nissan, Ford, General Motors, White GMC, Nissan Forklifts, SAME tractors, etc.[1]
He also brought to the North American Continent the German automotive group Borgward in 1967. They brought the whole German plant and set up shop in Monterrey, México. The plant closed in 1970. Not before making the only Mexican car in history until recently.[2]
He also went into the bank business creating Banco Monterrey, which slogan was "Tu Banco Amigo", meaning "Your Friendly Bank." The government took the bank away from him. Then-President José López Portillo y Pacheco, during his Sixth State of the United Mexican States Address, on Wednesday, September 1, 1982, announced the nationalization of the country's banks.
Grupo Industrial Ramirez
Grupo Industrial Ramirez or GIR, S.A. was established as the first Mexican automotive company. They started by producing trucks from bits and pieces of other vehicles that came from the USA during World War II.
After a few prosperous years, they started to develop their products from their research and development. There were popular trucks such as the R19, R20, R22.
They also produced the renowned Rural Ramírez, an SUV and Pickup truck based on a model by International, which is still collected by some people in Mexico.
After his death, his son Juan Gregorio Ramírez took charge of the company. After several years of bad business practices and the crisis of 2009, he had to declare some of the companies bankrupt. After running several companies to the ground like Autobuses Sultana and Trailers Ramírez, Juan Gregorio received several lawsuits by GIR shareholders, after making dangerous and dubious financial decisions in which he gained personally. GIR also made a deal with Schwing to begin production of cement trucks and pumps in 2009.
Honors
Gregorio Ramírez Gonzalez was given honors numerous times, as an outstanding citizen for Nuevo León, his hometown Sabinas Hidalgo, as an entrepreneur, as a club member of the Rotary Club, and being part of a select group of important and influential Mexicans of his time.
