Posted on 02/22/2014 4:03:11 PM PST by BenLurkin
The first Honda Fit rolled off the assembly line Friday at a new $800-million factory near Celaya, Mexico, a symbol of the growing might of the country's auto industry.
Honda's U.S. factories spit out hundreds of thousands of Accords and Civics each year. But when the automaker redesigned the Fit for North America, it turned to Mexico for an increasingly skilled workforce and favorable export rules.
Mexico already accounts for about 18% of North American auto production, but that's expected to jump to 25% by 2020 as automakers pour billion of dollars into factories, said Joe Langley, an analyst at IHS Automotive. The nation has joined Germany, Japan and the U.S as one of the heavyweights of auto production, he said.
U.S. auto factories have also kicked into a higher gear since the recession as auto sales have rebounded. But Mexico's plants are adding jobs and production even more quickly.
Mexico's auto industry employment has soared 46% to about 580,000 jobs since 2009,
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I just can’t shake that sucking sound out of my head.
A lot of them are almost within walking distance of the US-Mex border:
Online there are ads for people who can speak Japanese and can live in the US legally, but are willing to work at auto firms just across the border.
So other than simply BUYING, we have almost no role.
Well, please try . . . because you need to worry about punitive tax regimes, universal healthcare, bone-crushing regulations, and snail darters first.
No UAW.
NAFTA and the EU are similar.
No EPA in Mexico...
It’ll be over soon, not much left clean out.
I tell you right now if the quality of the cars they make is as good as the Fume hoods they made for Fisher hamilton, I’d run away from as fast as possible! Every time I saw Hecho en Mexico I cringed.
Ford Fusions are made in Mexico.
the mexican honda, immediately after rolling off the line, drove to the borer and broke through the gate, then went to a park party with several other related hondas, got drunk, then drove into an american family, then gave birth to several priuses, all of which became us autos immediately.
Outstanding climate, industrious people...what's really holding them back is corruption at every levels of government, and opposition to any real foreign investment.
That’s just too funny!
Mexico has its own auto workers union.
If we are going to send jobs somewhere I’d rather they went to Mexico than China or India.
If they’re making $8 an hour, it’s no UAW.
Thanks BenLurkin, and thanks UAW.
Americans will have to look to VWs and BMWs for autos made in non-union plants in the USA.
Way back when I had a Chevy that was made in Mexico. Started rattling within 6 months and within 2 years the inside door panels started falling off. Never again.
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