1 Pickup Truck Abandons Canada for Indiana, Hard
As the tariff war between the U.S. and its neighbors continues, automakers have some difficult decisions to make. For example, GM Oshawa, which has been proudly assembling vehicles in Ontario since 1953, is cutting its third shift and laying off 500 union workers. The automaker is bringing on 250 temporary employees in Indiana, presumably to pick up the slack in its Chevrolet Silverado production.
Detroit is actually north of the Canadian border. All of the USA’s “Detroit Three” automakers have had a major production presence across the river in Ontario for decades. For example: the Dodge Charger and Challenger as well as almost all of Ford’s V8s hail from Canada. The simple striker plates that attach to car door latches cross the Detroit River four times before being installed in multiple “U.S.” models. Many workers cross the border daily—in both directions.
The present “us vs. them” tariff mindset has upended the supply chain and economy in the greater Detroit metropolitan area. The latest victim is another 500 union workers on the Canadian side. Unifor Local 222 expects 1,200 workers in the greater supply chain to lose their jobs eventually.
Oshawa currently builds the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and HD—a model that’s actually assembled in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. The Unifor union’s national president said General Motors, “has made a clear decision to cave to Donald Trump.” Meanwhile, workers “pay for that appeasement with their jobs.”
One of the most intriguing aspects of this move is GM’s decision to bring on 250 more temporary workers at Fort Wayne Assembly, in Indiana. Why so few? Perhaps Silao, Mexico, will be picking up some of the slack. Or perhaps it’s part of the industry-wide move to attempt to build more vehicles with fewer employees—and more temporary ones at that.
