United States: General Motors reinvests in Detroit

From south Korea to the US.  The management of General Motors decided to make its new compact car in the US, after securing new pay concessions from the United Auto Workers (UAW). “No American carmaker has done this in 25-30 years” said Arthur Wheaton, professor at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR), pleased to see production back on the American soil. Indeed, Mark Reuss, GM North American President, announced that GM was investing $145 million at the Orion plant, near Detroit, Michigan. This investment is supposed to prepare for the reopening, next year, of the plant closed in November 2009, to make two new cars: the replacement of the compact, Aveo, and another, bigger, the Buick Verano.  Mark Reuss bargained with UAW leader Bob King, for the wage cost reductions: 60% of the plant’s 1,550 employees will receive $28 an hour plus retirement and health insurance contributions.  However, the remaining 40% will only make $14 an hour.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

Mark Reuss bargained with UAW leader Bob King, for the wage cost reductions: 60% of the plant’s 1,550 employees will receive $28 an hour plus retirement and health insurance contributions. However, the remaining 40% will only make $14 an hour.

Until now, General Motors assembled the Aveo in Asia. Ford makes its own compact, Fiesta, in Mexico, and so does Chrysler. Indeed, wage costs are much cheaper in Asia or Latin America. General Motors is coming back to the US, probably encouraged by the

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
Pays-Bas : Uber condamné à une amende de plus de 800 millions d’euros pour des décisions algorithmiques automatisées
L’info. Dans une décision datée du 17 août, l’autorité néerlandaise de protection des données a condamné l’entreprise de transport...
Portugal: open consultation on the transposition of the Pay Transparency Directive
The news. On 5 August 2026, the Portuguese government published a document proposing a draft text to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive as the basis for a public consultation open until...
EU: the Commission will set up an Expert Group on the impact of AI in the world of work
The news. On 22 July 2026, the European Commission published a progress report on the EU-27’s achievements regarding the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights, reinforced by the...
Belgium: toward an additional five days of leave following the birth of a child
The news. On 18 July, the Belgian federal government approved a draft bill introducing an additional five days of leave following the birth of a child. This entitlement would be added to existing...