GM drops shift at Michigan Cadillac plant to match car supply, demand
Automotive News
By Mike Colias
November 11, 2014
DETROIT -- General Motors is eliminating one production shift at the Michigan plant where the Cadillac ATS and CTS are made, a reflection of new brand chief Johan de Nysschen's vow to fix excess production and high inventories that have plagued Cadillac over the past year.
GM will cut production to one shift, from two, at its Lansing Grand River plant, spokesman Bill Grotz confirmed Tuesday. He said about 350 workers will be laid off beginning in January. GM will seek to move some of those people to one of the company's two other plants nearby, he said.
The line speed will be accelerated to produce more vehicles on that remaining shift than usual, Grotz said.
GM expects to resume a second shift at the start of production for the next-generation Camaro, which is being moved to Lansing from Canada.
U.S. sales of the ATS were down 19 percent through October. The compact sedan has faced fresh competition this year from lower-priced German entries, such as the Audi A3 and Mercedes CLA.
CTS sales in the U.S. have fallen 2 percent, despite glowing media reviews that generally put the car on a par with rivals such as the Mercedes E class and BMW 5 series.
Grotz said GM remains "committed to a strong and lasting presence in Lansing," citing about $280 million in recent investments in plants there.
*Full Article at Link
Automotive News
By Mike Colias
November 11, 2014
DETROIT -- General Motors is eliminating one production shift at the Michigan plant where the Cadillac ATS and CTS are made, a reflection of new brand chief Johan de Nysschen's vow to fix excess production and high inventories that have plagued Cadillac over the past year.
GM will cut production to one shift, from two, at its Lansing Grand River plant, spokesman Bill Grotz confirmed Tuesday. He said about 350 workers will be laid off beginning in January. GM will seek to move some of those people to one of the company's two other plants nearby, he said.
The line speed will be accelerated to produce more vehicles on that remaining shift than usual, Grotz said.
GM expects to resume a second shift at the start of production for the next-generation Camaro, which is being moved to Lansing from Canada.
U.S. sales of the ATS were down 19 percent through October. The compact sedan has faced fresh competition this year from lower-priced German entries, such as the Audi A3 and Mercedes CLA.
CTS sales in the U.S. have fallen 2 percent, despite glowing media reviews that generally put the car on a par with rivals such as the Mercedes E class and BMW 5 series.
Grotz said GM remains "committed to a strong and lasting presence in Lansing," citing about $280 million in recent investments in plants there.
*Full Article at Link