I remember reading about the engine plant issue with Ford and Holden ten years ago. It was to do with 'transfer pricing'. By undercutting the actual real price for a part from say Japan, thereby reducing taxation.
The Button car plan caused this, and it's been well known for a long time that prime components imported were going to save a lot of money for the car companies.
So Ford and Mitsubishi, have or are closing their engine plants. The other's get by because of secure export contracts - if you don't export it's looking dire.
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