A Tesla owner was recently ticketed for parking in the wrong lot at GM’s Wentzville plant in Missouri. The ticket was for parking a “foreign” car in a parking lot designated for domestic vehicles.
A picture of the parking violation was posted to social media, drawing attention from car fans and enthusiasts unaware of the practice of designating car lots based on the manufacturer’s origin – as well as contempt from those folks who are aware of Tesla’s domestic production.
In a statement to The Drive, a GM representative confirmed that GM designates certain parking lots at the Wentzville plant based on the vehicle manufacturer. GM isn’t alone in the practice, as several other major manufacturers have similar policies.
“Wentzville, like many of our manufacturing sites, has a parking policy and designated parking locations for GM vehicles, non-GM domestic vehicles and foreign nameplates,” the representative said.
The unnamed spokesperson continued by saying that the ticket should not have been issued in the first place, as Tesla produces U.S. models in the U.S.
“Plant security inadvertently thought the Tesla was a foreign car and wrote a ticket accordingly,” the spokesperson said. They added that there is no financial penalty involved in the citation, and that it was originally issued merely as a warning.
In a recent report, Cars.com ranked the Tesla Model 3 as the most-American made car in 2021, with the designation based on things like assembly location, parts content, engine origins, and U.S. manufacturing workforce. The Tesla Model Y grabbed third place on the list, while America’s sports car, the Chevy Corvette, was fifth.
The GM Wentzville plant is located at 1500 E. Rte A in Wentzville, Missouri, and employs roughly 4,500 workers. The facility produces GM’s full-size vans, including the Chevy Express and GMC Savana, as well as its midsize trucks, the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon.
Back in May, it was announced that the GM Wentzville plant would transition from three production shifts to two. The facility was idled later that month and is not expected to restart production until July.
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Comments
When I was in an out of Ft Wayne I always thought the rule was UAW vs non-UAW built cars, in which case the Tesla would have to park in the foreign lot. But I drove a Chevy so I didn’t pay attention to the rules too much
The problem now is your Chevy can be made in Canada, Mexico, South Korea, or China, all non-UAW.
Well I drove an 03 Impala so it was a Canada car, guess I never thought about that when I was there
When I worked for the UAW at Delphi Saginaw, the rule was no foreign cars were allowed at the Local (in my case 699).
I had a 06 Chevy Avalanche that I couldn’t park there because it’s final assembly was in Mexico. But here is the rub, we built the steering columns for those and the following generation.
Haha. That’s kind of funny. I will say that I’ve never been able to understand why someone working at a GM (Ford, Chrysler, etc) plant and earns their income from that company would not drive that product? I’ve always been a firm believer in driving what you ……. sell ……. build …… and taking pride in that product. When I was at the Buick, Cadillac, GMC, Honda store, I always drove a Buick, but drew the line at not buying a Honda.
Now that I’ve in the fleet department at a Mazda/Volvo store, I still have my GM (Cadillac), but I also have a Volvo. But no Mazda for me.
It’s fine when you work for the automaker directly and get a subsidized car. The problem is when you work for a supplier or vendor and you get a car, at best, at invoice. Worse is when you switch between projects and show up at a different company’s site, and now you have to switch cars.
The Japanese don’t care about what you drive, which may be a reason why their affiliated suppliers seem the most successful (Denso, Aisin, JATCO).
Its one thing when the manufacturer you work for has a directly comparable vehicle (i.e. why would you own a F-150 if you could buy a Silverado/Sierra at a discount and support your employer), but when there isn’t… and don’t tell be the Bolt is the alternative to a Model 3 ahaha.
“why would you own a F-150 if you could buy a Silverado/Sierra at a discount and support your employer””
Because maybe you like the F-150 better, and honestly don’t get sentimental about your employer, you’re just there for the check. It’s business, not sappyness.
I work at a water plant, does that mean I should drink nothing but water lol?
According to Dan Berning, all workers on hourly wages at the Rolls Royce plant should buy, own and drive a Rolls Royce. Are you serious?
Hey, chiming in. Relax, it’s not too late for Rolls to go mass market.
Thats actually funny.
I do driver a Tesla Model 3 (besides my very first vehicle, a 1989 Toyota Land Cruiser, it is the only NON GM vehicles I have had) but I am a GM fan not a GM employee. Side note, wish I had kept that Cruiser. Prices are sky high now.
I never understood why someone working for Ford, Chrysler, and GM would driver other makers vehicles. Now the only thing I can understand is if you got hired and had a NON GM vehicle at the time. But I would quickly move into a GM vehicle once hired.
Easier said then done for new/temp employees.
Remember the tier system?
As a new hire in some high cost of living States. $16.66 /hr doesn’t leave much room after rent/living expenses to be able to make new car payments.
The senior permanent employees yes , new hires at that starting rate not so much
Seems to me if they are going to enforce that rule the security needs more training on vehicle identification.
I mean….. style wise they are not wrong. Maybe I’m too much a cowboy, but the only style that Tesla beats is Toyota (Supra anyone?)
Where does one park their Envision, Spark, Encode, Etc?
if you build a superior product, why do you have to coerce your employees to buy it?
Is such a discriminating practice legal in USA?
I thought this practice was a relic of the 1970’s.
The local Missouri UAW lodge or chapter or whatever has a giant sign in their lot saying all non-US made cars will be TOWED at owner expense, Domestic Parking ONLY.
I guess their maids and servants get towed if they walk on the lot, LOL.