Trump claims Chinese automakers building factories in Mexico

During a recent event in Michigan, former President Donald Trump reiterated claims that Chinese automakers are establishing large factories in Mexico, despite these assertions being false. He threatened to impose 200% tariffs on vehicles produced by these unbuilt plants if they were to be shipped to the United States. Trump also warned that if Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris were to win the upcoming election, the U.S. auto industry would face severe decline, predicting that all electric vehicle manufacturing would shift to China. Contrary to Trump's claims, the auto industry has seen growth in employment since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, with a reported increase of 13.6% in auto and parts jobs. Trump’s comments suggested a bleak future for the industry, stating that without his victory, the U.S. would lose its manufacturing plants to China. He proposed that tariffs would compel foreign automakers to build factories in the U.S., dismissing the current presence of foreign automakers in the country. Industry analysts have pointed out that while some Chinese automakers are interested in the U.S. market, there are no significant Chinese-owned auto factories currently being constructed in Mexico. The only existing Chinese assembly factory in Mexico is a small operation run by JAC, which produces inexpensive vehicles for the local market. Trump's assertions about the state of the auto industry and the supposed influx of Chinese factories lack supporting evidence. Overall, Trump's statements reflect a strategy aimed at rallying support by invoking fears about foreign competition and the future of American manufacturing, despite the current positive trends in the auto sector under the Biden administration.