GM announces 900 jobs as Trump visits Detroit Brent Snavely
As President Trump talked about strengthening the auto industry, General Motors announced plans Wednesday to add or retain about 900 jobs across three Michigan plants during the next 12 months.
Trump mentioned the news to the hundreds of auto workers gathered for the event at the former Willow Run plant, which made bombers during World War II and later cars, as well as crediting Ford Motor and Fiat Chrysler for jobs they are bringing back to the U.S.
Trump also talked about his efforts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has led to many new auto plants opening in Mexico to make cars that are imported into the U.S.
“Buy American and hire American. It’s not just a motto, it’s a pledge,” Trump said. “The era of economic surrender for the United States is over.”
GM said the new jobs are in addition to 3,300 jobs it promised to add in the U.S. as part of its four-year contract with the United Auto Workers union that was signed in 2015.
However, GM also said the new jobs are not directly connected to any new policies proposed by Trump.
“The job commitments announced today demonstrate the confidence we have in our products, our people and an overall positive outlook for the auto industry and the U.S. economy,” GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said in a statement.
The new jobs are also in addition to the 7,000 jobs and $1 billion in U.S. investments GM announced earlier this year.
In Michigan, heart of the nation’s auto industry, GM said it plans to:
uAdd 220 jobs at Romulus Powertrain Plant to increase production of the 10-speed automatic transmission to be used in multiple GM products.
uRetain 180 jobs at Flint Assembly Plant.
uRetain 500 jobs at Lansing Delta Township, where GM has laid off 1,000 workers as it makes the transition from building three models to two models.
‘Buy American and hire American. It’s not just a motto, it’s a pledge,’ president says
A worker installs a door on a GM crossover SUV as it goes through the assembly line at GM’s Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant in 2010.