The ad came as President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on U.S. automakers to build more of their vehicles domestically, threatening to slap tariffs on vehicles built outside the U.S.
Like Trump, the UAW has criticized U.S. trade policy over the past several decades, calling free trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement unfair to American workers who have seen high-paying jobs shifted to Mexico and other lower-wage nations.
Automakers have responded to the pressure put on them by announcing new investments and jobs at U.S. plants. Automakers have framed the investments as reflections of the strength of the U.S. economy and confidence in the Trump administration’s economic policies, though many of the investments have been in the works for years.
Duncan Aldred, GM’s U.S. vice president of Buick and GMC, said in an interview with Automotive News last month that he is sensitive to concerns about where vehicles are built and that the company aims to sell domestically made products when practical. With the Chinese-made Envision, for example, he said projected volumes didn’t justify making it at another plant.
“It is a very American brand. The headquarters are here and will remain so, and we’re very proud of that,” Aldred said. “We always try and like to build where we sell.”
