General Motors (GM) is planning to build its newest electric vehicle in Mexico, the company said on Monday.
Slated to arrive in the American marketplace next summer, the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer will be manufactured in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, where the gas-powered version of the car is presently assembled, according to CNBC. Versions of the electric vehicle will sell for between $45,000 and $66,000 and have a range of up to 320 miles.
In response to the news of GM’s expansion in Mexico, Tesla CEO Elon Musk commented on social media that “Teslas are the most made-in-USA vehicles.”
Indeed, President Joe Biden has frequently lauded GM and Ford amid their efforts to expand electric vehicle offerings — yet has consistently decided to omit the world’s largest electric vehicle automaker.
“Ford is investing $11B to build electric vehicles — creating 11,000 jobs across the country,” a post from Biden’s social media said as his most recent State of the Union speech concluded. “GM is making the largest investment in its history — $7B to build electric vehicles, creating 4,000 jobs in Michigan.”
Musk, who has since expressed support for Republican candidates, then noted that his company has created more than 50,000 jobs in the United States, as well as invested “more than double” GM and Ford combined. Months ago, Musk unveiled his company’s new manufacturing facility near Austin, Texas.
The snubbing from the Biden administration may lie in the fact that Tesla is not unionized. On the campaign trail, Biden had pledged to “encourage and incentivize unionization and collective bargaining” while supporting legislation such as the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which threatens to eliminate states’ right to work laws and erode the legal status of independent contractors.
Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki hinted at Tesla’s lack of unionization last year when she was asked why the company was not invited to an electric vehicle summit in which Ford and GM participated.
“Well, we, of course, welcome the efforts of all automakers who recognize the potential of an electric vehicle future and support efforts that will help reach the president’s goal. And certainly, Tesla is one of those companies,” Psaki said. “Today, it’s the three largest employers of the United Auto Workers, and the UAW president who will stand with President Biden as he announces his ambitious new target, but I would not expect this is the last time we talk about clean cars, the move toward electric vehicles, and we look forward to having a range of partners in that effort.”
When pressed on whether Tesla was omitted because it is not unionized, Psaki repeated that attendees included “the three largest employers of the United Auto Workers.”
“I’ll let you draw your own conclusions,” she added.
At the time, one electric vehicle YouTuber noted on Twitter that Musk could have a seat at the table if he had “moved Tesla manufacturing to Mexico like Ford did.”
“Apparently good paying American jobs, making 100% Electric vehicles isn’t enough to be shown as an example of how other manufacturers should behave?” he observed.
Musk replied: “Irony indeed.”
Source: Dailywire
