Well here is the answer for Porsche. And its 15 years old!!
I think the impression that burns people is that Canada is a first world country that has manufacturing of automotive components that exists because of proximity and obvious geographical supply chain integration. Mexico is a 3rd world country that has manufacturing due to low labor rates and a lower level of government intervention into things like environmental compliance and safety. Plants are built in Mexico explicity because of low cost, to the detriment of middle class workers. In Canada this isn't the case. You can argue Mexico is a global export center because vehicles built there are subject to lower import duties than are American made vehicles. You'd be right. That's not why the Mexican plants were originally built though.
What about computer chips? If Ford was affected by computer chip shortages it would make sense that other manufacturers were too.
But they can be produced in the United States.
This is thoughtful. I would only disagree that the plants are to the detriment of workers in Mexico. Though maybe you meant in the US.
Did you just say "brown people?" You win, you are the least racist of all.
I look at it from a different perspective. I really do not care where the profits go. So long as my investments go up it doesn't matter whether the company is in Detroit, Tokyo, or Stuttgart.
This.
Ford doesn't build the Mustang "from the ground up" in Flatrock. There are many subassemblies that have been BUILT somewhere else. The same is true of most other companies.
It's still way cheaper to make a quality product in China than in other countries. I know Iphones are polarizing for some, but they are made to an exceptionally high standard in Chinese plants. We have to realize that China was turned into the world's factory, and they've been in that role for 30+ years now. Some of the best production and process engineers the world has ever seen oversaw this process. No use making something there if it doesn't meet the specs you want it to (and consistently as well).
This isn't just about salaries its about local economies. Ford has six plants in the United States, they have one HQ. The Kansas City plant alone has more employees than HQ (over 7000).
I agree with what you are saying. Yes there is a lot involved in assembling automobiles. Even just shipping them around is a lot. I mentioned salaries because you mentioned the economy. The dollars that people make are exactly what supports the local economies. People that assemble things purchase things just like the owner and members of the board of directors purchase things. Assemblers probably spend a lot less money, but they do spend for sure. And if there are a lot of assemblers for every employee that is much more highly paid, then the assemblers impact the economy more.
