Tacoma Manufacturing Goes into South Mexico

https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota...investment-in-its-san-antonio-assembly-plant/

Not a token. I personally think we will see a continued shift to bring manufacturing back to the US. This was already happening, then shutdown related impacts to tier-1 and tier-2 manufacturers supporting the auto industry (and others) seem to be only accelerating things.

 

a two year old responds this way

That’s all I have to say

 

But Nissan unfortunately is a dying company...in a few years I'm afraid they will disappear...Renault (the parent company is in trouble too)...

 

There is a very strong "BUY AMERICAN" ideology woven in the cultural fabric, but I highly doubt many look at it deeper than surface-level. Can't say I've ever heard anyone talk bad about Canadian-manufactured vehicles, but that's just my personal anecdote. I do know many Americans have stronger opinions on Mexico...

I guess my intent in reference to how the "job creation" bit is used with pundits and talking heads wasn't clear. It wasn't directed specifically at you. My apologies.

There is some interesting reads on the negative impact on local economies when big businesses move in. I've only really seen as it applies mostly to retailers and sports entertainment.

 

So if they decide to close down the plant in SA, I worry about the local economy that will suffer in the long term. Think about families that bought a house, kids education...that will creat a great insecurity...another word The American Dream...gone up in smoke...but I think the future politicians would have no problem recommending a chinese made car or truck...Europe and Australia already sell those thin cans

 

The American Dream is a myth created by rich people to con the rest of us into working for them.

 

Well, the current pandemic illustrates some of the issues of being reliant on other countries for...everything. Back when I was a kid the only thing made in China were those plastic lizards and dinosaurs in the 50 cent bin at Woolworth's. Now...its everything...important stuff like PPE too.

That said I understand the complexity of multinational companies and hold no grudges against Mexico. Love my Baja-built Tacoma.

 

LMFAO. I guess you've never heard of Subaru. Those great Japanese engineers that built the same defective oil burning piece of shit boxer engine for years. The Subaru apologists will be along to explain that due to the design, a boxer's 180° cylinders are prone to oil puddling, ring wear. ring land distortion, blah blah blah. But yet Honda, BMW and Porsche can build boxer engines with none of these issues.

 

I hear from the grapevine they are moving some Tacoma builds to China.

 

It’s all about perspective.

As a blue collar worker, my focus on this discussion is jobs. I make a good enough salary that my wife quit her good paying job when our first child was born 26 years ago and we have been more or less toughing it out this way since - and me and my family have a great life- seriously.

If any US town has a company like Toyota build a factory there, the list of jobs created goes on and on:

construction jobs building, maintaining and upgrading the plant.

construction jobs building houses for employees to live, shops and offices that service their needs, roads and infrastructure etc, etc and so fourth.

workers in grocery stores, doctors offices, gas stations, schools etc.

Vacations, restaurant meals, entertainment consumed by these people.

Food service at the factory employees.

Insurance agents, car dealerships and furniture stores.

On and on and on.

TLDR;

Maybe the quality of the vehicle is the same produced in MX or TX, but the quality of life for many American workers suffers when a vehicle is built in MX.

Mexican workers quality of life increases, but I really don’t care about that.

My slightly more than $.02

 

When did this begin? I owned three 4WD Subaru wagons between 1977 and 1992 and the H-4 engines were great, bordering on amazing considering their small size. Two were 1.6 liter and one was a 1.8 liter and none had any oil issues or motor fails.

 

There's a bit more in play that isn't addressed, and I am not really the one qualified to go into that nor is this really a good place to do that. I don't disagree with you entirely, just there are other thoughts and data out there to consider.

 

If you ask me this whole Buy American is a bunch of crap and just a Slogan. Go to any Retailer and try to find something that is Made in America most of the stuff comes from China Vietnam and other places you can not find on a World Map. It is not any different in the Auto Industry. Take BMW they just open a plant in Mexico same with Audi Mercedes built cars in Russia. Chrysler builts cars in Italy and ships them over here. As long as there is cheap labor Companies will travel the world to find the cheapest labor to show the biggest profits for there share holders.
Look at the Meat Industry Apple BMW Mercedes the list is endless. As long as consumers scream for the lowest price the madness will go on why do you think jobs in America going overseas to be competitive.


Sam Walton would turn over in his grave what they did to his Company.

 

I read your post and was reminded of a quote by Mike Tyson

When Mike Tyson was asked by a reporter whether he was worried about Evander Holyfield and his fight plan he answered; “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

it relates because everyone can discuss the topic easily, but anyone can think jobs don’t matter- until you lose yours and can’t find another one...

https://fewzion.com.au/mike-tyson-everyone-has-a-plan-until-they-get-punched-in-the-mouth/

 

Personally I think that the brands you mentioned are premium, unfortunately Subaru, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Suzuki are not on par with a Toyota or a Honda...

 

Wasn't my point, but I concede to your economic expertise.

 

just a guess...white collar job?

I already believe you’re a DINK though.

I was one of those way back when.

 

Sorry to interrupt again. Not saying your wrong. The “American Dream” probably differs from one person to another. If I’m not mistaken, it applies to everyone, including Mexicans and all immigrants lol (as in I’m moving to America to live the American dream) It surely doesn’t start with moving to Texas and working at a factory or an assembly line though!
Ok that’s all now, I swear

 

Feel free to not give a crap about your fellow Americans, but I suspect you've never been to an Automotive Factory. I've been to the Corvette plant (3x), the Smyrna Nissan plant, and the Chevy plant in Indiana. After seeing the thousands of Americans assembling cars and working hard for a decent living I am unable to write them off as irrelevant. I understand wanting something made in Japan, they make the best machines IMO. Mexico isn't in the same league as Japan, it's just cheap with little regulation.

 

Yup. When I sold my 2001 Subaru Forester two years ago, it had 533,410 miles on it and I drove every one of them basically trouble-free! Now, I drive a 2015 GLK 350 (in addition to my 2004 Tacoma). Same size as my old Subie, but more horsepower and a lot more modern conveniences.