General Motors do Brasil will fire 960 workers from its Brazilian São José dos Campos plant, in São Paulo state, due to a reduced export forecast.


GM expects this year to export about 160,000 vehicles after shipping 208,000 units in 2005. According to GM, this is due largely to the Brazilian currency’s appreciation against the US dollar – an issue causing concern to all Brazilian automakers at the moment.


The automaker said it had lost a contract to ship the Brazilian-made Meriva minivan to Mexico because the price was now too high due to the strength of the Brazilian real. Mexico is now supplied from Spain.


GM will now cut until July a shift assembling passengers cars at São José dos Campos. The track building the Corsa, Meriva and Montana compact pick-up will work one shift and the Meriva will be made on the same assembly line as the S10 pick-up and Blazer SUV.


At the beginning of the month Volkswagen announced a restructuring plan for Brazil, citing the Brazilian currency’s appreciation against the US dollar.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

But GM said that, in the second half of the year, it will hire 970 workers for its Gravataí plant, in Rio Grande do Sul state.


The new employees will assemble the Celta sedan to be introduced in Brazil at the end of the year.


Rogério Louro