Toyota is opening up a new manufacturing plant in Ontario. Along with Ontario, many southern U.S. states were attempting to woo Toyota in choosing their respective territories for the site.
According to this CBC report, despite higher subsidies offered by the U.S., Ontario won out because Canadian workers are easier to train with a higher level of literacy and education. Let me supply you with a quote from the story:
“Nissan and Honda have encountered difficulties getting new plants up to full production in recent years in Mississippi and Alabama due to an untrained – and often illiterate – workforce. In Alabama, trainers had to use ‘pictorials’ to teach some illiterate workers how to use high-tech plant equipment.”
Now keep in mind what I just quoted you came from the mind of president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, an organization which has the goal of promoting Canadian interests in the auto industry. This actually maybe true but Toyota sure as hell won’t say it.
Also keep in mind that along with Nissan and Honda, even Mercedes-Benz has manufacturing facilities in the southern U.S. states. Though this might be the first signs of a new trend towards more educated auto plant workers. Who knows really?
To be honest, this doesn’t make southerners look very good at all.