General Motors Announces Layoffs of 1,300 Workers
General Motors (GM) is set to cut approximately 1,300 jobs across two of its Michigan plants, the Orion Assembly and Lansing Grand River Assembly, according to WARN notices filed with state regulators. The job reductions, scheduled for the new year, follow GM’s October announcement of delaying the production of electric pickup trucks until 2025.
The forthcoming layoffs will impact 945 employees at the Orion plant, known for producing the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV crossover, and 369 employees at the Lansing assembly plant.
While the Orion plant is slated to manufacture additional electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, GM’s decision to postpone production has led to the workforce reductions. The company clarified that the delay was unrelated to the recent United Auto Workers’ strike, one of the longest in the US auto industry in 25 years.
GM stated, “GM anticipates having job opportunities for all impacted team members per the provisions of the UAW-GM National Agreement. Lansing Grand River Assembly will continue producing the Cadillac CT4 and Cadillac CT5.”
The United Auto Workers union, representing workers at the affected plants, is yet to comment on the situation.
In response to the layoffs, GM outlined plans to offer alternative opportunities to affected UAW members, including positions at Factory ZERO in Detroit-Hamtramck. Salaried employees at Orion Assembly will also be considered for internal opportunities following GM’s policy.
These workforce reductions reflect the uncertainties within the electric vehicle market, with EV discounts on the rise as unsold inventory accumulates on dealer lots. This trend suggests a decline in demand for electric vehicles, challenging previous projections of a thriving market.
Notably, other automakers, such as Ford, have also implemented cost-cutting measures, with Ford announcing the layoff of 700 employees involved in building the F-150 Lightning, an electric version of its popular vehicle, in October. The layoffs are part of Ford’s strategy at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan.
