Grumpy Editor

Jeeps to China stemmed from print report, not Romney

In recent days leading up to today’s national election, media (extending to MSNBC this afternoon) and Democrats have been emphasizing Mitt Romney campaign’s “misleading” ads mentioning production of Jeeps --- one of the world’s most famous U.S. vehicles dating back to their debut in World War II --- would move to China, notes Grumpy Editor. 

They cite the ads as the Romney campaign’s efforts to undercut President Barack Obama’s support for the auto industry. 

Jeeps --- produced by Chrysler Group LLC, now majority owned by Italian car manufacturer Fiat --- currently are produced at assembly plants in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. 

What media are overlooking is that the China rumble started with one of their own --- Bloomberg News.

This afternoon with Martin Bashir's segment on MSNBC, discussion centered on the on-screen headline:  Romney's "Jeep" ad may have backfired with Ohio voters.

An Oct. 22 Bloomberg story reports Fiat “plans to return Jeep output to China and may eventually make all of its models in that country, according to the head of both automakers’ operations in the region.”

It adds,”Fiat is in ‘very detailed conversations’ with its Chinese partner, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., about resuming Jeep production in China.

In pre-Fiat days, some Jeep models were manufactured for distribution in that country.

Three days after the Bloomberg story, Romney, at a Defiance, Ohio, rally on Oct. 25, tells supporters, “I saw a story today that one of the great manufacturers in this state, Jeep, now owned by the Italians, is thinking of moving all production to China.  I will fight for every good job in America, I’m going to fight to make sure trade is fair.” 

Soon after, a Chrysler spokesman declares, “The take has given birth to a number of stories making readers believe that Chrysler plans to shift all Jeep production to China from North America, and therefore idle assembly lines and U.S. workforce.” 

Five days later, Chrysler’s chief executive strongly refutes claims that production of Jeeps would shift to China.

Reid nixes Olympic garb from China but boosts solar plant

While much coverage stemmed from Sen. Harry Reid’s negative comments on Chinese-made uniforms that the U.S. Olympic team plans to wear at the games' July 27 opening ceremonies, media did not give much attention four months ago when the Nevada Democrat praised the Chinese in a deal involving a solar power plant in southern Nevada, points out Grumpy Editor. 

The Senate majority leader, noted for holding back legislation in recent months, seemed surprised about the origination of Ralph Lauren-designed attire for the athletes. 

His fuming quote, repeated over the weekend in television news, will go down as a classic:  “I think they should take all the (Olympic) uniforms, put them in a big pile and burn them and start all over again.” 

In a later call to home-state reporters, Reid emphasized:  “Our athletes should not wear clothes manufactured in China.” 

While Reid seemed shocked, it indicated the long-time senator hasn’t shopped lately in men’s clothing departments of Macy’s, Target or even Wal-Mart. 

Checking labels would have shown him that much garb for men (and women) these days is produced in Cambodia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, India --- and China.

Xinhua News Agency, China's official news agency, today called the made-in-China uproar "hypocritical" and "irresponsible."

 His jab at China contrasted with a March 21 news conference in which he promoted a bargain deal involving a Chinese group that will pay $4.5 million --- less than one eighth of the $38.6 million assessed value --- to buy land from Nevada’s Clark County to build a solar plant in Laughlin. 

Chinese-made components would be used at the solar site. 

In plugging the benefit of the Chinese-operated plant for the Golden State, not the Silver State he represents, Reid said it “will generate the electricity California must have in just a few years; 30 percent of all electricity must come from renewable resources.”

 

$1 billion Ford complex to create 5,000 jobs --- overseas

The timing of a Ford Motor Co. announcement, while involving expansion and hiring of thousands of workers, may be raising some eyebrows rather than bringing cheers on a day when President Barack Obama focuses on jobs and the U.S. economy in an address before a joint session of Congress, notices Grumpy Editor. 

The Detroit-based auto maker announced it started construction on a $1 billion manufacturing and engineering complex that will create 5,000 jobs. 

Welcomed news? 

Not for the U.S. where the unemployment rate remains at 9.1 percent.

Location of the new facility is in India. 

The pre-Obama speech announcement may have some public relations folks blushing at Ford’s headquarters. 

The new plant in Sanand in the western state of Gujarat initially will produce 240,000 vehicles and 270,000 engines a year by 2014, said Ford. 

The complex highlights the auto maker’s plan “to aggressively grow the Ford brand in India,” said Michael Boneham, Ford India president. 

Ford has been expanding in India with a total investment there of $2 billion to date. 

The auto maker also operates a plant in Chennai, a south Indian city.

It has a capacity to produce 200,000 cars and 250,000 engines a year --- with plans to boost engine output to 330,000 by next year.