GM extends 280 layoffs at Detroit EV plant through year end

General Motors has told about 280 employees at its electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit that they won’t return to work until after the new year.

GM in early September temporarily cut one of two daily shifts building the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Escalade IQ at the plant, known as Factory Zero. Those workers, along with about 120 who have been on layoff since April, were scheduled to return Oct. 6 but instead will remain idled through December.

The layoffs do not affect production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV.

GM is making production changes in anticipation of slower demand for electric vehicles, spokesperson Kevin Kelly told Automotive News in an email. A $7,500 federal tax credit that had spurred sales of EVs expired Sept. 30.

“We will continue to evaluate and adjust operations based on the market and customer demand,” he said after the Detroit Free Press reported on the extended layoff Oct. 9.

GM idled about 200 employees of the plant’s 4,000 in April, though nearly half have since moved to jobs at other plants.

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