“Slap in the face”: American Auto Federation slams GM for investing in Coahuila plant | Algebraic

WASHINGTON – The United States Auto Industry Association (UAW) has criticized the billion-dollar investment in Mexico announced by General Motors on Thursday, describing it as a “slap in the face” to American workers and taxpayers.

UAW Vice President Terry Dates said in a statement that, “While General Motors is requesting significant investment from the United States government in subsidies for electric vehicles, this is a slap in the face not only for UAW subsidiaries and their families, but also for American taxpayers and workers.” “.

General Motors said yesterday that it will invest more than $ 1 billion in its Ramos Arezzi facilities in the Mexican state of Coahuila to boost electric vehicle production.

According to GM, the investment will “allow the opening of a new paint plant with innovative technology that will begin operations in June 2021” and will also prepare for expansion of assembly plants and global propulsion systems, making the Ramos Arizpe complex the fifth production center for electric vehicles at GM in North America.

In his statement, Dates considered that GM cars sold in the United States should be built by workers from that country, not Mexico.

The unionist said that taxpayer money should not go to companies that employ non-US workers while benefiting from subsidies provided by the US government.

“This is not the United States that we support. It really is not appropriate,” he added.

Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingle, a Michigan lawmaker, also criticized GM’s decision to invest $ 1 billion in Mexico to produce electric cars aimed at the United States.

“No US dollar should support moving our jobs to Mexico, especially when we have the workers and technology to produce the best cars of the future locally. GM needs to reassert its commitment to American working families,” said the Congresswoman.

General Motors is accelerating its transformation to produce new electric models more quickly. The company has committed to launching at least 30 electric vehicles by 2025 in which it will invest $ 27 billion.