Foxconn Mulls Detroit, Los Angeles for Factory Site

Jobs

Published: November 9, 2012 6:47 am

Sina News reports that Foxconn, which makes components for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) products among others, may open a factory in the United States. Among the sites being evaluated are Detroit and Los Angeles.

Since labor is so cheap in China, it is hard to see why Foxconn would make such a decision and hurt its margins. One reason may be political. Foxconn’s labor abuses have been in the news almost every week. Apple probably is concerned about the reaction of American consumers, and whether these reactions eventually will hurt sales. A factory in America, particularly in a place as badly damaged by the drop in manufacturing jobs as Detroit, would help Foxconn’s image, even if there is a financial cost. The factory also would help silence the “China has taken American jobs overseas” movement.

But the jobs that would be created in the U.S. may not be for highly skilled and highly paid labor. ZDNet reports:

[T]he production of Apple products is “very complex”, market watchers expect the new plants in the U.S. to only manufacture LCD televisions — the production process of which is highly automated and relatively simple, the report noted.

American labor just cannot hack it.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Travel Cards Are Getting Too Good To Ignore (sponsored)

Credit card companies are pulling out all the stops, with the issuers are offering insane travel rewards and perks.

We’re talking huge sign-up bonuses, points on every purchase, and benefits like lounge access, travel credits, and free hotel nights. For travelers, these rewards can add up to thousands of dollars in flights, upgrades, and luxury experiences every year.

It’s like getting paid to travel — and it’s available to qualified borrowers who know where to look.

We’ve rounded up some of the best travel credit cards on the market. Click here to see the list. Don’t miss these offers — they won’t be this good forever.