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oldtools

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Buick sells more cars in China than the U.S.

GM sell more vehicles in China than the US. GM now built Cadillac in China for the Chinese market rather than importing them from the US. GM survival relie heavily on the Chinese market. Future GM products will be dictated by the Chinese market.
 

ngk22r

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The big thing is is when companies like Ford for example say drive American, drive a Ford...

Well I guess that statement can be true to a slight degree when they mean, the Americas so they can tie in their plants in Mexico.

But what makes a company truly American? That their headquarters are in the USA, or that they employ a certain amount of Americans? Make most of their product here? As far as I see, these big companies are not truly American as they claim. Toyota and Honda for example can be considered more American than the "American" companies due to they employ so many, and build so much here. But where do we draw the line? Snap-on has plants and employees over seas but are they an American company, or a global company?
 

wafrederick

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The 2010 Camaro is built in Canada.Harley Davidson had cylinder liner problems when Dana sent this liner production to Mexico.These cylinder liners were American made in Muskegon,Mi and Dana made a huge mistake.They thought they would save money with a 75% scrap rate shipping this line to Mexico and Harley Davison canceled their order.
 

King Bojack

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The big thing is is when companies like Ford for example say drive American, drive a Ford...

Toyota and Honda for example can be considered more American than the "American" companies due to they employ so many, and build so much here. But where do we draw the line?

The line is drawn where the company is headquartered. As soon as Honda or Tomoco move their HQ to US they will become domestic companies. Stop falling for their political dog and pony assembly show. Tomoco last I heard is bailing on the NUMMI plant now that GM isn't helping with the plant's bills. So much for unabashedly supporting US labor eh?

Ford only makes 2 vehicle lines in Mexico. The Fusion/MKZ (as Milan is done) and the Fiesta. Focii I believe are and will be built in Wayne assy plant. AFAIK all F series sold in the US are built here. Yes they have a Mexican F series facility to facilitate production of F series in Latin America but I've never seen an F series vin starting with a 3. Flex and Edges are made in Canada, as are the Panther triples. Transit connect is partially assy in Europe and then finished in America to avoid the chicken tax.

So essentially, if they're to be sold in the US all F series, all Focii, all Escapes, all Explorers, all Expeditions, all Mustangs, all Taurii, all E series, all Rangers are produced somewhere in America. I'm not sure but I think the Lincoln lines are made on the same assy line as their Ford counterpart. Merc is dead so it's outta the discussion now.

Apologies for thread derailment.

Perhaps a few models listed are built in various facilities some of which may be foreign but it drives me nuts that Tomoco can make Camrys and Tundras here and every one is all "Dhuuuur, Ford makes Fusions in Mexico, why can't they be more 'Mercan like Toyota and they's Camry's!!!" which is falling for import marketing hook line and sinker. BTW, if I'm wrong about what I posted concerning Ford vehicle's COO please set me straight.
 

ngk22r

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Tomoco last I heard is bailing on the NUMMI plant now that GM isn't helping with the plant's bills. So much for unabashedly supporting US labor eh?

Toyota is going to keep the NUMMI Plant open, they have a new partner for the plant, aka Toyota-Tesla NUMMI

But if a company is headquartered here in the USA, but has all of its jobs overseas how will that make them truly an American company?
 
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King Bojack

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Toyota is going to keep the NUMMI Plant open, they have a new partner for the plant, aka Toyota-Tesla NUMMI

Really? Good. Didn't know that had actually gone through. I've been hella busy lately. Last thing CA needs is more unemployment. Last thing Toyota needs to do is give the UAW more fuel for the growing fire. Maybe Tesla can finally stop being a worthless tech show and build more than a Hi powered golf cart Miata knock off.

King Bojack, laying down the knowledge!

I'd lay more but I don't know where every single import is built (nor do I care to research unless needed or curiosity comes up) and haven't had the time to memorize where all of the rest of the domestic lines are built. I know the Camaro is Canadian, the Charger is Canadian, HHR is Mexican, Aveo is Korean etc. etc. but I won't bother to mention every single one of the heaps and heaps of car factories the big 3 still run in US compared to the imports which would be mostly pointless. So enough thread derailing now that I've gotten my piece about the COO of cars out in the open.
 
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wantedabiggergarage

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The line is drawn where the company is headquartered. As soon as Honda or Tomoco move their HQ to US they will become domestic companies. Stop falling for their political dog and pony assembly show. Tomoco last I heard is bailing on the NUMMI plant now that GM isn't helping with the plant's bills. So much for unabashedly supporting US labor eh?

One problem with headquarters, is publicly traded companies. They can be headquartered here, and a foreign entity (country, business, etc) buy up controlling interest. This is an issue with "global" companies, and at least part of why there is so much debate.
 

Skin

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which is falling for import marketing hook line and sinker.

Its not marketing, its business. Its obviously more cost effective to have plants in the same continent you sell your cars. I dont even remember seeing marketing by Toyota touting the fact that their cars are made in the States. Infact a lot of people still believe them to be purely Japanese imports just like people believe that the big 3 are all american when they could be comprised of just as many if not more foreign components as those same "imports".
 

bmxr4life87

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but the toyota corolla is on the uaw site? i wish people would pull their heads out of their asses and realize this isnt 1960 anymore
 
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Lhorn

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I dont even remember seeing marketing by Toyota touting the fact that their cars are made in the States.

They've pushed that quite a bit in the past.
 
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sheslostcontrol

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The whole site appears pretty much unused....

Yeah, but the membership is 10 times what it was 4 months ago. Hope you'll consider signing on & contributing.

I hear more and more people talking about spending money on goods made locally. I believe the buy American movement is growing.
 
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sheslostcontrol

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"Made in USA" site? Wonder what computer equipment the owners are using to host it?

Buy American does not mean avoiding all trade with foreign made goods.

It involves putting forth a little effort to find and support domestic manufacturers of goods whenever an alternative exists. The key is taking the time to search & locate. Many sites like http://stillmadeintheusa.com make this relatively painless. There are dozens of sites like it.

I posted about http://smarterusa.com because it is the first "wiki" (forum) based buy-american site I've found, where readers can post up to the minute info on goods they've located.

As more people demand US manufactured goods, more domestic manufacturing will occur.
 

wafrederick

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The foriegn car companies take the profits overseas if the car is built and sold in the USA.I have seen an Izuzu with a Chevy 4.3 from the factory once.The older Rolls Royces have GM parts under the hood.Have GM EGR valves,a/c compressors and many more.If you want to know the truth about Volkswagon and Audi,a Volkswagon is a glorified Audi and an Audi is a glorified Volkswagon sharing the same parts.It is getting hard to find tools made in the USA.Snap On has been cutting corners,their diagnal wire cutters are now made in China
 

King Bojack

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but the toyota corolla is on the uaw site? i wish people would pull their heads out of their asses and realize this isnt 1960 anymore

Off the top of my head I think that may mean the NUMMI which was a union plant. I'm fairly certain it was the only (some one correct me if I'm wrong) Tomoco UAW facility. Tomoco can ill afford too many UAW plants in the states. This would put them at the same disadvantage the domestics are at vs. the other transplant auto makers.
 

leftyz

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I was thinking about adding forums to my "Made in the USA" site, not sure there is enough demand for it though..
 

oldtools

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Off the top of my head I think that may mean the NUMMI which was a union plant. I'm fairly certain it was the only (some one correct me if I'm wrong) Tomoco UAW facility. Tomoco can ill afford too many UAW plants in the states. This would put them at the same disadvantage the domestics are at vs. the other transplant auto makers.

Just because the import makers do not hired UAW does not mean they don't employ American workers. They employ thuosands of non-UAW American workers. If American workers can have a decent living employed by import makers, I don't see why UAW can not.
 

King Bojack

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both the new F-series trucks at work were proudly tagged........MADE IN MEXICO but I am located in the southern region so that may be why most of the F-series around here are tagged this way

Oh ok, so Mexican F series do get imported. Old Escorts were made in both Wayne and Hermosillio. I think either due to option packaging or to make up for when demand outstrips supply they will pull a few units in from Mexico. I could be wrong but there's still factories in the US cranking out F Series probably as 24/7 as possible. Perhaps it is all based on region. I work in Florida and don't ever remember seeing an F series with a 3 vin.

Just because the import makers do not hired UAW does not mean they don't employ American workers. They employ thuosands of non-UAW American workers. If American workers can have a decent living employed by import makers, I don't see why UAW can not.

Ummmm, I don't know if I totally follow you,

I never said they couldn't make a profit or pay their workers well if the UAW gets involved or that citizens with opportunity to work for a foreign company should starve out of some kind of patriotic principles but the UAW is a bell that cannot be un-rung once they're in there. Ideally good management/worker relations (I am pro union BTW) will prevent much if not all of the worker strife that is usually associated with the UAW. That being said it will still be a disadvantage simply due to the risk of the UAW being around.

I don't want to derail this thread anymore so I'll sit down and shut up about car companies.
 
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Bull

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I don't want to derail this thread anymore so I'll sit down and shut up about car companies.

At this point, I wouldn't worry about it. At least what you are giving us are interesting facts coming from some place of obvious experience and knowledge.

Or, you are a wicked good bluffer :lol_hitti
 
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