GM now top automaker in Mexico as it idles U.S. factories
General Motors enters 2019 as the top carmaker in Mexico.
The distinction comes as GM plans to shutter four U.S. manufacturing facilities this year, putting thousands of jobs at risk and drawing political and labor criticism of its decision to produce so many vehicles in Mexico, particularly the new Chevrolet Blazer SUV.
GM’s rise in Mexico is largely because of Nissan scaling back its sedan production there, slipping from the top position. GM, on the other hand, has been retooling its San Luis Potosi plant and Ramos Arizpe facility in recent years to shift to SUV and pickup production.
GM said its boost in production is to meet the strong demand for SUV and pickups, as sedans have fallen out of buyers’ favor.
(. . .)
Cheap labor
Still, GM’s rise in stature south of the border hits U.S. hourly workers in the gut, especially after GM announced in November it will close three assembly plants by the end of 2019, including Detroit-Hamtramck, Lordstown in Ohio and Oshawa in Ontario.
Over the past few years, GM has created or shifted production to Mexico, including the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs and Chevrolet Silverado pickups, UAW President Gary Jones said.
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