Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, already a vocal detractor of Ford’s investments in the country of Mexico, has expressed outrage at today’s announcement that the automaker will erect a new plant in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi.
Construction on the new plant will begin this summer, and will cost Ford a total $1.6 billion to build.
“This transaction is an absolute disgrace,” said Donald Trump, according to Reuters. “Our dishonest politicians and the special interests that control them are laughing in the face of all American citizens.” He went on to say that investments in other countries by US-based manufacturers “will continue until we can renegotiate NAFTA to create a fair deal for American workers.”
To our knowledge, this is the first time that Donald Trump has referred to NAFTA by name in decrying Ford’s investments in Mexican production. He’s previously stated that if elected, he would impose a punitive 35 percent tariff on Ford’s imported parts and vehicles – a move that would violate the trade agreement.
Ford Motor Company has been made an example by Donald Trump at political rallies and on social media, but the automaker isn’t the only company in the sector strategically investing where labor inexpensive.
In fact, according to Reuters, Ford has more hourly plant workers in the US than rivals General Motors and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 55,300 for Ford to 54,000 for GM, and 36,600 for FCA. In Mexico, Ford currently has the least hourly workers at 6,191, compared to FCA’s 9547 and GM’s 12,000. Consequently, 80 percent of Ford vehicles sold in North America through 2015 were built in the US, versus 64 percent for FCA and 63 percent for GM.
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