Amid an ever-slumping auto market, General Motors announced today that it will be making production cuts at three North American production facilities. The production cuts will result in the elimination of nearly 2,000 UAW workers.
Following a November sales drop of 41 percent, GM will be cutting production at its Orion, Michigan; Oshawa, Ontario; and Lordstown, Ohio car plants.
“We’re shrinking because the market is shrinking,” GM spokesman Chris Lee told Automotive News.
GM’s Orion plant produces the Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6. The Oshawa car facility produces the Chevy Impala. GM’s Lordstown plant – which actually added an additional line last summer – produces the company’s Pontiac G5 and Chevy Cobalt.
GM will be eliminating a third shift at all three plants, with Orion’s and Lordstown’s cuts coming on the week of February 2nd and Oshawa’s during the week of February 9th.
In addition to the aforementioned cuts, GM will also idle its Fairfax assembly plant – which produces the Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura – during the week of January 19th, following an already scheduled two week shutdown during the beginning of the month.
In all, the cuts will result in about 2,000 UAW layoffs.
