A nationwide general strike in Argentina brought several major automotive plants to a halt on Thursday, disrupting operations at factories run by Stellantis, Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz. The information was first reported by g1.
The stoppage comes in response to a labor reform proposal put forward by President Javier Milei. The proposal includes extending working hours and tightening rules on vacations, severance pay, sick leave and collective bargaining agreements.
Argentina plays a strategic role in Brazil’s automotive supply chain. In 2025, Brazil imported nearly 200,000 vehicles from its neighbor, representing about 40% of total vehicle imports for the year. Despite the temporary shutdowns, companies say there is no immediate forecast of supply shortages in Brazil.
Key models for Brazil affected, but impact seen as limited
Several of the vehicles produced in Argentina are top sellers in the Brazilian market.
Ford manufactures the Ranger pickup in Pacheco. The model sold more than 34,000 units in Brazil last year. Nearby, Volkswagen assembles the Amarok, while in Córdoba the German automaker produces heavy vehicles and transmissions used across the group’s lineup.
Toyota’s plant in Zárate, about 90 kilometers from Buenos Aires, builds the Hilux and the SW4. Together, those two models surpassed 66,000 units sold in Brazil in 2025. The same facility also produces the Hiace van, which was launched in Brazil last year.
Mercedes-Benz assembles the Sprinter commercial van in Virrey del Pino, in the Buenos Aires region.
Stellantis halted production of the Fiat Cronos, Titano and the RAM Dakota pickup in Córdoba because of the strike. The company’s plant in Palomar, which builds the Peugeot 208, 2008 and Partner, as well as the Citroën Berlingo, had already scheduled a pause for assembly line updates. According to the automaker, full production at that site will resume on March 2.
Renault’s Santa Isabel plant also stopped operations, although the company had previously scheduled that technical pause.
Automakers say the disruption should be short-lived. Volkswagen stated that its factory would remain idle only on Thursday, with production expected to resume on Friday. The company added that it does not anticipate delivery delays or inventory shortages in Brazil.
Stellantis Argentina described the strike as an event beyond the company’s control and said operations would resume once the stoppage ends. Ford confirmed that production is currently paused but expects a return to normal activity on Friday. The automaker also said that Ranger inventory levels in Brazil remain sufficient, with no expected impact on customers.
While the immediate effects appear contained, the strike underscores how labor and political tensions in Argentina can quickly ripple across the broader South American automotive market.