According to filings with the state of Michigan, General Motors (GM) is set to initiate layoffs affecting just over 1,300 workers across two Michigan plants early next year. The larger layoff, involving 945 employees at GM’s Orion Assembly plant responsible for producing Chevrolet Bolts, is scheduled to commence on January 1. However, the company has slated the final production date at the Orion plant for the week of December 18.
GM had previously announced plans in October to transition the Orion plant to electric vehicle production by 2025, delaying the original target of 2024 to safeguard profit margins. During this transition, GM assured that employees at the Orion plant would be provided with “other opportunities in Michigan.”
Additionally, GM will be laying off 369 more workers at its Lansing Grand River Assembly/Stamping plant starting on January 2. This decision stems from the company’s choice to cease the production of the Chevrolet Camaro, which is manufactured at the Lansing facility. GM stated that it anticipates offering job opportunities to all affected team members in accordance with the UAW-GM National Agreement.
Regarding the decision to halt Camaro production, Brad Franz, director of Chevrolet car and crossover marketing, explained that it resulted from an assessment of the company’s “portfolio offerings for progress toward our EV future and sales demand.” Although no immediate successor for the Camaro was announced, Franz emphasized that performance remains a crucial aspect of Chevrolet’s identity.
In a related development, GM’s self-driving unit, Cruise, disclosed in an internal memo obtained by CNBC on December 14, that it is implementing a workforce reduction of 900 employees, constituting 24% of its total workforce. This decision comes in the aftermath of safety concerns, leading to Cruise temporarily suspending its operations. GM expressed support for Cruise’s employment decisions, characterizing them as part of a more deliberate approach focused on safety as a top priority.