General Motors (GM) wants to begin importing Chinese-built vehicles to the US in 2011, the Wall Street Journal reported. The company currently makes vehicles in China for sale exclusively in Asia but it believes it can save on manufacturing costs by shipping cars to the US as well. GM revealed its plans, which will eliminate 21,000 local jobs, as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy submitted to the US Congress. GM plans to ship 17,335 Chinese-built vehicles to the US in 2011, rising to more than 38,000 the following year and above 53,000 in 2013. The company also wants to increase imports from other countries, including South Korea, Japan and Mexico. The United Auto Workers union opposes the plan, arguing that GM – which is suriving on government handouts – shouldn’t use taxpayer money to subsidize US job losses.
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