It is not the first time the union has complained that American manufacturers assign new models to Mexican factories. In late 2019, the UAW also claimed General Motor for its “lack of commitment” to build new vehicles in its US factories and that it instead assigned the Mexican plant in Ramos Arizpe to produce the Blazer model. A claim similar to the one now facing the Blue Oval Company.
Ford was not immediately available for comment on whether UAW’s lawsuits could affect his plans.
The new vehicle that Ford has assigned to Mexico will share an electrified platform similar to that of the Mustang Mach-E, so production at the Cuautitlán plant will “improve production and technical efficiency”, according to the manufacturer.
Although Ford has invested nearly $ 11 billion in several of its North American plants, including one in Mexico and two in the United States, to produce its first electric models, the U.S. union welcomes Ford’s allocation of a second vehicle to Mexico not. of choosing Ohio.
During labor negotiations in 2019, Ford pledged to spend $ 900 million on the factory to convert it for a new model it would build in 2023.
“We hope the company will honor its contractual obligations with this membership and, if not, we will take action,” Kariem wrote in the letter to Ford which has been replicated in several US media.
Ford said in a statement Wednesday that it is committed to the Ohio plant and highlighted recent investments in the United States.
The Mach-E was Ford’s first electric car to go into production. The original plan was to manufacture it at its Flat Rock, Michigan plant, but in late 2017, the company announced its plans to send production of its new battery-powered all-electric SUV to Mexico and focus on production. of autonomous vehicles in the Flat Rock Assembly Plant. “This allows us to provide significant savings, capital and physical space,” Ford said at the time.