A small urban city located halfway between León and Guanajuato city, Silao has seen a growth explosion due to the massive manufacturing plants built just in the past decade, including a General Motors plant which builds huge SUV's such as the Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade, and Chevrolet Avalanche. It is yet another example of a population center which has made the move from being an "important" agricultural center to a semi-important industrial center.

The main transportation route between Ciudad Juárez and Mexico City passes through Silao, and it is located just 5 miles away from the Bajio International Airport (BJX), only 10 miles from the León city limits and only 15 miles from Guanajuato city.