General Motors will extend its holiday shutdown at as many as 10 factories in an attempt to conserve cash amid uncertainty over a make or break government bailout. Workers at several plants were told Friday morning the shutdown will be extended until January 20th.
Dave Green, president of a United Auto Workers local in Lordstown, Ohio, told the Associated Press workers got news of the shutdown today at the massive complex, which produces Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5.
The last scheduled workday there will be December 23rd, but activities are expected to slowly wind down well before that.
Other plants affected include the Orion Township, Michigan facility, which builds the Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6, and the Fairfax, Kansas plant, which also builds the Malibu and also assembles the Saturn Aura. The Wentzville, Missouri assembly plant, which builds full-size vans, was also part of the announcement.
In Canada, the Oshawa car assembly plant will also see an extended shutdown. It currently builds the Chevrolet Impala and Buick LaCrosse . It is expected to begin production of the new Camaro in February.
GM will also permanently close the Oshawa truck assembly plant in May 2009, about two months sooner than originally planned.
