GM Reveals List of Plants to Be Closed

The time has finally arrived for General Motors and, together with the long-awaited bankruptcy filing, the American automaker revealed lots of already-known things. One of them is the company's decision to reduce the total number of assembly, powertrain and stamping facilities in the U.S. from 47 in 2008 to 34 by the end of 2010 and 33 by 2012. However, there were no specific details on the plants to be scrapped, although rumors surrounding this subject have longly surfaced.

Well, The General today rolled out the list of facilities to be closed in the next two years, with no less than three plants to be shut down this year in December and four of them in December 2010 - full details are available in the table below.

“Our manufacturing operations, which already are among the most productive in the industry, will emerge even leaner, stronger and more flexible, as part of the New GM,” said Gary Cowger Group Vice President of GM Global Manufacturing and Labor Relations. “Flexible manufacturing enables us to quickly respond to consumer preferences and changing market conditions.”

“As GM strengthens its aftersales business, we’re aggressively pursuing strategies that allow us to continue fast parts delivery to our dealers and distributors, and improve our warehouse capacity utilization,” said Kevin W. Williams, GMNA Vice President and General Manager, Service and Parts Operations.

Additionally, General Motors also re-confirmed its plans to produce a small car in the United States as a result of the agreement with UAW. The small car is said to play a key role in New GM's market strategy, with the manufacturer promising an annual output of 160,000 units.

Plant	Status / Timing
Assembly
Orion, Mich.	Standby Capacity - September 2009
Pontiac, Mich.	Close - October 2009
Spring Hill, Tenn.	Standby Capacity - November 2009
Wilmington, Del.	Close - July 2009
Stamping
Grand Rapids, Mich.	Close - June 2009 (previously announced)
Indianapolis, Ind.	Close - December 2011
Mansfield, Ohio	Close - June 2010
Pontiac, Mich.	Standby Capacity - December 2010
Powertrain
Livonia Engine, Mich.	Close - June 2010
Flint North Components, Mich.	Close - December 2010
Willow Run Site, Mich.	Close - December 2010
Parma Components, Ohio	Close - December 2010
Fredericksburg Components, Virg.	Close - December 2010
Massena Castings, N.Y.	Closed - May 1, 2009 (previously announced)
Service & Parts Operations (SPO) Warehousing & Parts Distribution Centers
Boston, Mass.	Close – December 31, 2009
Jacksonville, Fla.	Close – December 31, 2009
Columbus, Ohio	Close – December 31, 2009