“Ford ever said they were leaving America, they were just expanding non-American facilities.”
Yeah, like there’s a “big market” for Ford in Beanerland! Those cars produced in Mexico are destined for the US Market! In a way, you have to feel sorry for Ford and the other two of the Big Three. Thanks to their half-century of capitulating to the UAW, they’ve build a a pension/direct labor situation that makes them non-competitive against the Asian manufacturers (who by the way bring in their expensive parts like drive train components from their home countries).
Perhaps Trump would start tariffing the “foreign content” from the Asian and European mfrs as a first step toward leveling the playing field.
They’re destined for many places. Certainly many go to the US, but keep in mind Mexico also has two coasts, and less land in-between them, it’s a good place to export from. And there are actually people buying cars in Mexico, there’s drug cartels, there are actually people with money.
Actually, from what I've heard most of the Ford Mexico production is small, cheap cars (Fiesta, anyone?) headed for the Central and South American markets. These cars have the lowest profit margins and it's also smart to build them closer to where you're going to sell them.
The high-value, high-markup pickups and SUVs are staying here.