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GM to
add or
keep
7,000
jobs,
make $1B
factory
investment
By TOM
KRISHER
ap.org
DETROIT
-
General
Motors
plans to
invest
$1
billion
in U.S.
factories
and add
thousands
of new
white-collar
jobs,
measures
that
have
been in
the
works
for
years
but
announced
Tuesday
after
criticism
from
President-elect
Donald
Trump.
In all,
the
Detroit
automaker
said it
will
create
or keep
7,000
jobs in
the next
few
years,
including
about
2,000 at
its
factories.
Another
5,000
new
positions
will be
created
at its
auto
financing
arm and
to
develop
advanced
technology,
electric
and
autonomous
vehicles
and
information
technology.
The
company
wouldn't
release
details
on where
the jobs
will go,
saying
that
will be
revealed
during
the
year.
But most
of the
new
positions
would be
in
Michigan,
spokesman
Patrick
Morrissey
said.
The
long-planned
new
white-collar
jobs
will
come in
the next
two or
three
years.
GM said
the
factory
investment
has been
in the
works
for
years
and will
create
or keep
around
1,500
jobs at
unspecified
factories.
Included
in that
figure
are 450
new
pickup
truck
axle-making
jobs
that
will be
moved to
Michigan
from
Mexico,
a
decision
made
well
before
the
presidential
election
campaign,
the
company
said.
The
company
also
confirmed
that a
supplier
will
make
components
for GM's
next-generation
full
size
pick-up
trucks
in
Michigan,
moving
100
supplier
jobs
from
Mexico
to the
U.S.
GM
emphasized
that the
jobs are
good
business
decisions
that
have
been
under
discussion
for
months
or even
years,
but
Morrissey
said it
was a
good
time to
make the
announcement.
"There's
no
question
there is
an
emphasis
on job
creation
in the
U.S.
right
now," he
said.
"This is
good
timing
for us
to share
what we
are
doing,
including
our
ongoing
commitment
and
track
record
for U.S.
investments
over the
last
several
years."
Trump
attacked
GM and
other
automakers
for
building
vehicles
in
Mexico
and
shipping
them to
the U.S.
Earlier
this
month,
he
threatened
on
Twitter
to tax
GM for
importing
the
compact
Chevrolet
Cruze.
While GM
builds
hatchback
Cruzes
in
Mexico,
most
Cruze
sales
are
Ohio-built
sedans.
On the
eve of
the
Detroit
auto
show
last
week, GM
CEO Mary
Barra
said the
company
has no
plans to
change
where it
produces
small
cars in
light of
Trump's
threats.
Barra
said the
auto
business
has long
lead
times in
regard
to where
it
produces
vehicles,
and
decisions
are made
two to
four
years
ahead.
Barra,
who is
part of
a Trump
economic
advisory
group,
said
it's too
early to
talk
about a
possible
tariff.
She said
the
company
has more
in
common
with
Trump's
goals on
trade
and jobs
than
differences.
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