"Super Factory -- or Super Headache"

Business Week, July 31, 2000, p. 66.

Synopsis:

As described in the opening case in Chapter 12, international expansion strategies by General Motors (GM) are being driven by a belief that emerging markets would offer the greatest potential for future demand growth.

This article provides a contrasting view, focusing on GM's recent expansion strategy in Brazil. GM's new plant in Brazil, perceived as possibly the most productive in the world, is producing a new subcompact car, the Celta. Given the fact that demand for the Celta would not be enough in Brazil, however, GM may have to export it to foreign markets. This article also explains why exporting the Celta would not be an easy task.

Full-text Article: http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_31/b3692086.htm

Case connection:

"Global Strategy at General Motors" in Chapter 12 (pp.376-378).