Yahoo Finance lets us know that Subaru Can’t Afford To Build EV’s in North America Because McDonald’s Pays Too Well.
However, things took an odd turn when Nakamura compared the wages his company pays hourly plant workers with those of another local Indiana business. Courtesy of Automotive News:
“In Indiana, part-time workers at McDonald’s earn $20 to $25 per hour, which is in competition with what temporary workers make at our plant,” Nakamura said. “If we were to build a new plant, it would be very difficult to hire new people for that. Labor costs are rising now. It is quite challenging for us to secure workers for our Indiana plant, including those of suppliers.”
I have never conducted business in the Hoosier state, so it’s quite possible Nakamura knows something I don’t. But when I read the quote above, the $20-to-$25 estimate struck me as a tad high. There are five McDonald’s franchises in the Lafayette area, as far as I could tell via Google Maps. At the time of writing, the restaurant chain’s job site lists a range of staff and managerial positions open between them. The ones that do mention hourly rates all list between $12- and $15-per-hour, “plus cash incentives.” Meanwhile, Subaru’s plant around the corner appears to be paying $17-per-hour at the entry-level end for a “Laborer,” about $19 for a “Production Associate,” and the rates go up from there.
Fibbing about why your company can’t make vehicles where they sell them – in America, seems at odds with the
Subaru Love Promise featured on their website.
The Subaru Love Promise is our vision to show love and respect to all people at every interaction with Subaru. Together with our retailers, we are dedicated to making the world a better place.
Should we change the promise to love, respect, and poverty?
(graphic via iconfinder.com)
