UAW: Subcompact cars to be built in the U.S.

DETROIT (AP) — United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger says General Motors Corp. has agreed to build subcompact cars in one of its existing U.S. factories and will not produce cars in China for sale here.

Gettelfinger said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Thursday that the factory deal is part of a larger concession package with GM that union members are voting on this week.

A summary of the UAW deal says an innovative labor agreement is needed to produce subcompacts in the U.S. But Gettelfinger said that deal is only a few tweaks away from completion. He says new contracts with Chrysler and GM are competitive for the small cars to be built in the U.S.

GM had said in documents submitted to Congress that it planned to start importing small cars from China starting in 2011.