Overview
- General Motors confirmed it will keep pausing output one week each month at its General Alvear facility throughout 2026, with suspended employees paid 75% of wages.
- The company cited weaker demand in South American export markets for the Chevrolet Tracker, especially in Brazil, as the reason for the recurring suspensions.
- The Santa Fe plant now builds only the Tracker after ending Cruze production in 2023, and the direct workforce has fallen to under 600 following voluntary retirements.
- GM said domestic supply and planned upgrades at the plant remain in place, following earlier investments to support the Tracker production line.
- Industry figures show Argentina’s auto output fell 3.1% in 2025 and exports dropped 10.8%, with capacity utilization at 46.3% in November, as the Smata Rosario union warns 2026 could be as bad or worse for jobs and production.