Union blasts GM plan to sell Chinese-made cars in US
Carmaker dismisses Buick reports as speculation amid opposition from union
The United Auto Workers union blasted General Motors for considering selling Buick Envisions built in China in the United States and vowed to try to kill the plan during contract talks.
"After the sacrifices made by US taxpayers and the US workforce to make GM the profitable quality company it is today, UAW members are disappointed with the tone-deaf speculation that the Envision would be imported from China," said Cindy Estrada, the UAW vice-president responsible for the union's relations with GM.
"GM should stand by its declaration that it will build where it sells. The Envision should be made in the US by the workforce that saved GM in its darkest time, and UAW members intend to address this issue in contract talks."
GM spokesman Nick Richards said reports about importing the Envision, a compact SUV the company put on sale in China last year, were "speculative".
"We have not announced the Buick Envision for any markets other than China, where it has been extremely successful to date," he said.
GM also declined to comment on reports that next year it would shift production of the Buick Verano from Michigan to China; move production of the Buick Regal from Canada to either China or Europe; and start importing the Buick Cascade convertible from Europe.