General Motors, which is reducing its staff in Japan, will leave the nation’s major car makers’ lobby group in September, a company spokesman told Associated Press (AP) on Tuesday.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Detroit-based GM became the first foreign member of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association in 2002 when its Japanese partner Suzuki Motor began making the Chevrolet Cruze, AP said. Suzuki will continue making the Cruze under its own name, rather than under General Motors’, GM spokesman Masaaki Gotsubo told AP.
AP noted that production in Japan is necessary to be a JAMA member. Staff reductions also make it hard for the car maker to take part in all JAMA events and meetings, but Gotsubo told AP GM will remain a “friend of JAMA”.
According to AP, GM said in May that Suzuki, 20% owned by GM, will be responsible for manufacturing, importing and distributing Chevrolet products in Japan. The changes underline General Motors’ efforts to rely on its partners in the Japanese market, the report added.
GM is slashing its work force in Japan by half to about 130 people over the next several months, Associated Press said.
