Sept 22, V7N - General Motors (GM) has announced plans to temporarily lay off 1,695 workers at its Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas, as revealed in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice. The move is part of GM's broader response to shifting production demands and market conditions.

The layoffs will occur in two phases. The first phase, starting on November 18, 2024, will affect 686 full-time workers and result in the termination of 250 temporary employees. The second phase, set for January 12, 2025, will see an additional 759 full-time workers temporarily laid off.

These workforce reductions are tied to GM's decision to halt production of the Cadillac XT4 after January 2025. The company plans to resume production later in the year, focusing on both the Chevrolet Bolt EV and XT4, with a $390 million investment aimed at retooling the plant for Bolt EV production.

In addition to the Kansas layoffs, GM recently let go of over 1,000 salaried employees globally, particularly in its software and service divisions. This points to significant restructuring efforts across the company.

GM's strategy includes adapting to market shifts while investing in new technologies. The temporary layoffs are a calculated step to align staffing levels with production requirements as the automaker prepares to launch new vehicle models.

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