The United Auto Workers (UAW) is calling on automakers to maximize production at underutilized U.S. factories, claiming the move could generate up to 90,000 new manufacturing jobs and over 630,000 jobs across the broader economy. The message was laid out in a white paper titled “Unlocking the Potential of U.S. Auto Manufacturing Capacity,” released in April.
Image source | UAW.org
According to the report, 16 vehicle assembly plants operated by Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and Volkswagen—including the former GM Lordstown facility—have the infrastructure to significantly increase vehicle production. In 2024, U.S. automakers had the capacity to build more than 14.7 million vehicles but only produced 10.2 million, leaving 4.5 million units of unused capacity.
The union argues that the underutilization is not accidental but the result of a strategy prioritizing offshoring, stock buybacks, and short-term profits over investing in union jobs and long-term economic stability.
Moreover, the UAW is calling for automakers to reinvest in American labor, stressing that the existing plant capacity and skilled workforce are sufficient to meet production demands without needing new facilities.
As part of its campaign, the UAW held rallies this week in Trenton and Warren, calling on Stellantis to make better use of its American plants following recent job cuts at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant. The union’s broader message is a call to shift away from what it describes as a “high-exploitation, race-to-the-bottom” model and toward domestic reinvestment.
Nevertheless, UAW President Shawn Fain emphasized that U.S. workers and communities are ready to scale up production and support the industry’s long-term competitiveness — if companies choose to reinvest domestically. The UAW’s report portrays the current moment as a critical opportunity to rebuild the American auto industry with union labor, stronger communities, and more sustainable economic practices.
