General Motors (GM) is set to lay off 1695 employees at its Fairfax Assembly and Stamping plant in Kansas City, Missouri. The announcement comes as the plant prepares for a major transition in production. Currently, the facility manufactures the Cadillac XT4 and the Chevrolet Malibu. However, GM previously announced that Malibu production would end in November 2023, and XT4 production in Kansas will be paused after January 2025.
Following the production halt, the plant will undergo a retooling process, eventually resuming production in late 2025 with the next generation of Chevrolet Bolt EVs and the XT4. This move is part of GM’s strategic shift towards electric vehicles.
The layoffs are expected to impact the production of the Chevrolet Malibu and the Cadillac XT4. While the company did not immediately confirm if the layoffs are temporary or permanent, they likely align with the production pauses planned for these models.
It’s worth noting that the Chevrolet Bolt was GM’s best-selling electric vehicle before production of the previous generation ended in December 2023. The company’s autonomous driving unit, Cruise, plans to utilize the next-generation Bolt for its autonomous driving operations in the future.
This news sheds light on the evolving landscape of the auto industry, highlighting the shift towards electric vehicles and the impact of automation on manufacturing jobs. While the layoffs are a significant event for the Kansas City plant, GM’s commitment to electric vehicles suggests future opportunities and potential job growth as the company transitions to a new era of mobility.
