GM Announces Major Q1 2009 Production Cut

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer

General Motors is surely the most popular car manufacturer these days, but not necessarily thanks to the fact that it owns so many brands all around the world. It all started a few months ago when the continuously deepening financial crisis almost collapsed GM's production capacity. But even so, the American carmaker struggled to resist and demanded government aid, a request which is still analyzed by US officials.

GM continues its obvious course to bankruptcy today by announcing a major production cut for the first quarter of 2009. Although it only concerns three emerging markets, namely United States, Canada and Mexico, the announcement targets various brands owned by GM, including Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac, Pontiac and Opel.

According to a statement issued by General Motors, today's decision will temporary idle about 30 percent of the total North American production capacity and will reduce overall production by approximately 250,000 units.

Here's the complete list of General Motors production facilities which are going to be affected by today's announcement, along with models produced at the respective plants:

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