Late last year, members of the United Auto Workers union at General Motors staged a nationwide walkout after contract negotiations between the union and GM broke down. After a 40-day-long standoff, a new contract was finally ratified and union members returned to work, but the damage was done, with delays incurred in a variety of GM operations, from development, to debuts, to production. However, there were specific five specific GM models that were left unscathed by the protracted UAW strike.
The first is the Chevrolet Blazer crossover, which is produced in Coahuila, Mexico, at the GM Ramos Arizpe plant. According to GM sales figures for the fourth quarter of 2019, Chevy sold 23,008 units of the crossover during that time period.
The Chevrolet Spark also escaped unscathed, with 11,016 units sold, an increase of nearly 113 percent compared to 2018. Production of the Spark takes place at the GM Changwon factory in South Korea.
The Chevrolet Trax is another GM model produced outside of the U.S. and was thus unaffected by the strike, with assembly taking place in South Korea at the GM Bupyeoung factory, as well as in Mexico at the San Luis Potosi factory. Trax sales increased 48 percent to 33,039 units.
Meanwhile, Buick saw two vehicles unaffected by the strike, with the Buick Encore posting gains of 22 percent to 28,497 units, and the Buick Envision posting gains of 11 percent to 8,380 units. The Encore is produced in South Korea at the Bupyeong facility, while the Envision is produced in China at the Dong Yue facility.
One could argue that the Chevrolet Low Cab Forward truck was another GM model which was unaffected by the strike, with an increase of 35 percent to 1,273 units. Production is handled by Isuzu.
| Model | Production |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Blazer | Mexico |
| Chevrolet Spark | South Korea |
| Chevrolet Trax | Mexico, South Korea |
| Buick Encore | South Korea |
| Buick Envision | China |
| Chevrolet Low Cab Forward | Isuzu |
In case you didn’t noticed, there’s a running theme here – each of these GM models is produced outside the U.S., a factor that provided the automaker with a substantial benefit in the face of last year’s lengthy UAW strike.
GM Models Immune From 2019 UAW Strike
| MODEL | Q4 19 / Q4 18 | Q4 19 | Q4 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TRAX | +47.64% | 33,039 | 22,378 |
| CHEVROLET BLAZER | +85,114.78% | 23,008 | 27 |
| CHEVROLET SPARK | +112.91% | 11,016 | 5,174 |
| BUICK ENCORE | +22.17% | 28,497 | 23,326 |
| BUICK ENVISION | +11.21% | 8,380 | 7,535 |
| CHEVROLET LOW CAB FORWARD | +35.43% | 1,273 | 940 |
GM estimates that the strike cost it nearly $3 billion in profit. Nevertheless, the automaker still managed to generate a profit.
Comments
Equinox built in Ingersoll Ontario Canada production was not affected by the strike
Nope. The Equinox was impacted due to the U.S-based supply of major components.
Yup. The Equinox was NOT affected by the strike.
I work at Cami. We didn’t miss a beat in our production for the weeks of the UAW strike.
How about Express cutaway? It’s produced by navistar.
Buick Regal
Having GM vehicles assembled outside the U.S. is a good business practice, since it allows the foreign market direct access to those vehicles, such as the Cadillac CT5 assembled in China. But its drawback is happening now. With the Corona Virus menace, GM will lose some manufacturing and exports from China and South Korea.
Raymond Ramirez
The CT5 built in China is built for China. The rest of the world gets CT5s built in Lansing Michigan.
Notice how Ramirez and Lopez both think non U.S. manufacturing are somehow “a good idea”
It is a good idea for a global company to manufacture things in multiple locations around the world.
If a Chevy isn’t built in the US I won’t buy it. I will support US jobs before buying anything foreign made. Plus the quality is usually a little better.
You should buy a Toyota Camry then. It’s the most American car made, and has excellent quality ratings.
Yes, I expect the down votes from pointing this out.