President-elect Donald Trump tweeted appreciation to Ford Motor Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles on Jan. 9 following recent announcements by both companies to invest in U.S. plants.
During the Detroit Auto Show, Fiat Chrysler announced a $1 billion investment in its Warren, Mich. and Toledo, Ohio plants by 2020. Fiat Chrysler’s plans to make a Jeep pickup and resume production of the classic Wagoneer is expected to create 2,000 jobs.
Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, warned the company would have to close plants if Trump imposed a tariff on imports from Mexico.
Ford announced earlier in January its plan to expand its Flat Rock plant, investing $700 million and hiring 700 new hourly workers to build self-driving and electric vehicles. The plant currently produces the Mustang and Lincoln Continental. Ford also canceled plans to build a $1.6 billion plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Trump retweeted an article following the announcement, which indicated the president-elect’s influence on the decision.
Trump won Michigan, an auto industry hub, in November with promises to revive American manufacturing. Earlier in his campaign, he threatened to impose tariffs on cars made in Mexico by General Motors and repeatedly criticized Ford for their plants in Mexico.
He expressed gratitude to Ford and Fiat Chrysler in a tweet, noting his appreciation for their investment in Michigan specifically.