MEXICO CITY – Germany's Q-Cells , the world's largest solar cell maker, said Thursday it will invest up to $3.5 billion in a new production plant in Mexico.

Q-Cells Vice President Leo van der Holst told a news conference the investment would run over the medium to long term to make the new plant the company's production hub for the Americas.

(Reporting by Noel Randewich; editing by John Wallace)