GM warns Brazilian officials against "a critical moment that demands sacrifices from all" | Auto Sports

Carlos Zarlenga, GM GM for Brazil and Argentina, said that after suffering heavy losses over the past three years, the operation had reached "a critical moment which demands sacrifices from all ". .

The memo referred to comments from CEO Mary Barra during a presentation to investors last week on the challenges in South America. quoted by Zarlenga.

Wanted by G1 the automaker stated that he would not comment on this.

According to Reuters, the dark tone was a shock to some of the employees in Brazil, after GM overtook Volkswagen and Fiat in 2017, becoming the leader in car sales. the economy is slowly recovering from a strong recession.

The Chevrolet Onix was the best-selling car in the country in 2018, for the fourth year in a row.

Still according to the agency, Renato Almeida, vice president of the Union of Metallurgists of São José dos Campos, described GM's statement as "absurd".

In addition to Vale do Paraíba, the manufacturer owns factories in São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo ABC, Gravataí (RS) and manufactures engines in Joinville (SC).

"The company is going through a good time in Brazil," he said. "There is nothing to suggest that they will shut down their operations."

In April 2018, Zarlenga told Reuters that cost reductions during the recession, including a 35 percent cut in jobs in Brazil, had resulted in a small profit in South America in 2017.

Day 11 , GM has announced an unprecedented global family of vehicles that is expected to account for 75% of the total. sales of the company in South America by 2023.

At the end of last year, Mary Barra announced that GM would close its plants and lay off workers in North America, as well as two other production units located outside the region. whose location has not been revealed.