La Jornada: GM announces that it will produce 80 thousand cars in Mexico; will stop bringing them from Asia

Toluca, Méx., President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo yesterday led the announcement by General Motors to start the production of more than 80 thousand cars a year, which are currently imported from Asia, which will not only strengthen the country’s automotive plant, but also preserve and generate more qualified jobs.

The project considers an investment of more than one billion dollars in the four plants that the company has in national territory, since the idea is that from now on two of the most in-demand models in Mexico will be assembled, the Aveo – favorite of President Claudia Sheinbaum – and the Chevrolet Groove, which were previously produced in Asia.

In an event at the plant of this company located in the capital of the state of Mexico, the federal president expressed that this is a tangible example of what Plan Mexico represents, which is to strengthen production and the national market.

“In Plan Mexico we all fit, workers, businessmen and women. The municipal, state and federal governments are there. It is a plan for the country,” he stressed.

Sheinbaum Pardo recalled that before assuming the position of President, she met with the executive directors of the most important automotive companies to analyze the commercial scenarios that were envisioned.

He stressed that he has always maintained a positive spirit to overcome adversity and stressed that when authorities, businessmen and employees work together, as in this project, they will undoubtedly move forward.

Ebrard celebrates decision

The Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, celebrated General Motors’ decision to invest one billion dollars, of which a part will be used to manufacture 80,000 vehicles in Mexico that are currently imported from Asia, and presented it as proof that Plan Mexico works.

At the event in Toluca, Ebrard described the announcement as the result of months of direct negotiations between the president and the automaker’s global executive director, Mary Barra, including a meeting at the National Palace.

“This is the first agreement of our President and a global CEO that we have implemented,” said the official, who attributed the result to the coordination headed by Sheinbaum since before the current government began.

Ebrard explained that the production of these vehicles will be installed in the country before the end of 2029 and the project will not be limited to the assembly of units. Gradually, automobiles incorporate a greater percentage of parts and components manufactured in national territory, which would expand the effect on the supplier network. General Motors maintains links with nearly 200,000 jobs in Mexico through this production chain.

The head of Economy acknowledged that the decision implies an additional cost for the company, since manufacturing in Mexico is more expensive than doing so in the markets of origin. However, the automotive consortium chose to strengthen its manufacturing platform in the country, which will protect existing plants and jobs, whose facilities were described by Francisco Garza, president and general director of General Motors Mexico.

Garza indicated that the goal of 80 thousand units per year is expected in 2030, produced in the Ramos Arizpe complex, Coahuila, which this year celebrates 45 years of operations and houses five plants with more than five thousand workers.

Meanwhile, the Business Coordinating Council asserted that GM’s announcement “confirms confidence in Mexico.” In a message on the social network