& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Trump's auto tariff plan threatens GM's $7b South Korea rescue

Reuters, Seoul
Fresh off a $7 billion rescue for its lossmaking South Korean operation, General Motors faces a new threat as US President Donald Trump considers higher vehicle import tariffs that could "make or break" its Asian subsidiary.
Earlier this month GM agreed on the bailout package with the South Korean government in return for a pledge to stay in the country for at least 10 years, purchase more Korean-made parts and produce two new models popular in the US market.
But less than two weeks later, the Trump administration launched a national security investigation into car and component imports that could lead to new US tariffs similar to those imposed on imported steel and aluminum in March.
Higher tariffs would be painful for Asian automakers whose shipments accounted
for one third of US vehicle imports last year through heavyweights such as Toyota Corp and Hyundai Motor.
They could also have a devastating impact on smaller players such as GM Korea and its plan to become a major export hub again.
"This is a matter that could make or break GM Korea,” a person familiar with GM's situation told Reuters.
"The success of its restructuring plan hinges on more production for exports, and the two new models to be manufactured here are primarily targeted at the US market to serve that purpose," the person said, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.
GM Korea, GM's biggest production base in Asia excluding China, exported about a quarter of its vehicle output to the United States last year, and the portion is set to rise further as it shifts production
toward models popular in the US market following a sales pullback in Europe.
"The tariff does not make sense," said Ko Tae-bong, an analyst at HI Investment & Securities. "The (South Korean) government injected all the money into the unit, and there will be no other major markets to sell cars other than US after Europe exit."
GM has abandoned several moneylosing markets over the past three years as part of a broader strategy to boost production margins and conserve capital to fund electric and automated vehicles as well as new models for core markets in China, the US and Latin America.
It also closed one of its four plants in South Korea this month, but decided to continue operating other plants to leverage the Korean unit's core strength - R&D capability and a strong supplier network. That move now looks in jeopardy as Trump considers tariffs on parts imports.
South Korean suppliers provide parts worth nearly $2 billion to GM's factories overseas, including the United States and Mexico, according to GM Korea.
GM has about 300 first-tier suppliers and 2,000 second-tier suppliers in South Korea, including some which GM may find it difficult to replace quickly, they said.
Korea has had the second largest number of winners in GM's suppliers' awards program for several years, following the United States. This year, 27 South Korean suppliers known for their high-quality, affordable products have won GM Supplier of the Year awards. That represents 22 percent of total winners globally.
Park Pyong-wan, a former GM Korea executive, said GM may shift production of the Trax to the United States or produce complete kits in South Korea for final assembly in the United States to avoid the tariffs.