The Auto Writer

Ailing General Motors announced yesterday that the company would be slashing first quarter 2009 production in a bid to better align what it produces with customer demand. Citing the collapse of the financial markets and the resulting lack of vehicle financing for its 41% drop in sales for November 2008, GM says that they will temporarily idle more than 20 assembly plants in the US, Canada and Mexico for the month of January.

The move by GM will result in 250,000 fewer cars being built in the coming quarter a drop from the previously targeted 750,000 units. In line with the plant shut downs, the automaker says that they will “continue to assess its powertrain and stamping capacity needs and make adjustments as appropriate.”

The following operations impacted by yesterday’s announcement include:

U.S.:

• Ft. Wayne (Ind.) – Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra Light Duty Regular and Extended Cab
• Flint Assembly (Mich.) – Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra Heavy Duty Regular and Crew Cab & Medium Duty
• Wentzville (Mo.) – Chevy Express, GMC Savanna
• Lansing Delta Township (Mich.) – Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook
• Pontiac Assembly (Mich.) – Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra Heavy Duty Extended Cab
• Spring Hill (Tenn.) – Chevy Traverse
• Fairfax Assembly (Kan.) – Chevrolet Malibu/Hybrid, Saturn Aura/Hybrid
• Arlington Assembly (Texas) – Full Size SUVs: Chevy Suburban, Tahoe & Tahoe Hybrid, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL & Yukon Hybrid, Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV & Escalade Hybrid
• Lansing Grand River (Mich.) – Cadillac STS & CTS
• Orion (Mich.) – Chevy Malibu, Pontiac G6
• Detroit-Hamtramck (Mich.) – Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS
• Shreveport (La.) – Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Hummer H3 & H3T
• Bowling Green (Ky.) – Chevy Corvette, Cadillac XLR
• Wilmington (Del.) – Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Opel GT

Canada:

• Oshawa Consolidated – Chevy Impala
• Oshawa Truck – Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra Light Duty Extended and Crew Cab
• CAMI – Chevy Equinox, Pontiac Torrent

Mexico:

• Silao – Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab, Chevy Avalanche, Cadillac Escalade EXT
• Ramos 2 – Chevy HHR, Saturn VUE, Chevy Captiva
• San Luis Potosi – Chevy Aveo, Pontiac G3

Source: General Motors