General Motors invests $ 1 billion in a Mexican electric car manufacturing plant. In the home country of the United States, there is a surprise to this announcement.
General Motors will expand its range of electric cars with its various brands in the coming years. The Ultium platform, which we now know from the GMC Hummer and the Cadillac Lyriq (photo), forms the most important basis for this. In the US, factory workers, as well as the government, hoped that this innovation and manufacturing would boost the local auto industry, but GM apparently does not intend to do everything domestically. It reports that it is investing $ 1 billion (€ 827 million) in a plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, near Monterrey. It is said to be building two electric SUVs there, although it is not yet known which they are. What is already certain is that GM wants to accommodate battery production there. Cars are already being built by Chevrolet.
The announcement is by no means warmly received in the US. United Auto Workers, the auto industry union, says Reuters know in a statement that this is “a slap in the face to the American workers, their families and taxpayers.” What makes it extra cruel is that GM is asking for financial support from the US government by subsidizing electric cars. In addition, President Biden pledges to invest $ 174 million in EV manufacturing and the necessary infrastructure for electric cars.
General Motors doesn’t seem too impressed by it itself. The group emphasizes that 9,000 new jobs have also recently been promised due to the production of EVs in the US. The group is also investing $ 9 billion in the American factories where the electric cars have to roll off the assembly line.