General Motors (GM) has announced a temporary halt in the production of its popular pickup trucks due to parts shortages, although has not specified which parts are in short supply.
This interruption arrives at a challenging juncture as industry analysts observe GM and Stellantis, another major automotive company, increasing their inventory over the past couple of months in anticipation of a potential strike by the United Auto Workers (UAW).
Negotiations are currently underway between UAW and GM, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Co., as the existing contract between the three automakers and the union is set to expire on September 14.
Kevin Kelly, a spokesperson for GM, confirmed on Thursday that the Fort Wayne Assembly located in Indiana will cease all production during the week of August 28.
The assembly plant is responsible for manufacturing GM’s full-size Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty pickups.
Kelly indicated that production at this facility is anticipated to resume on September 5, following the Labor Day holiday.
Another impacted production facility is the Wentzville Assembly in Missouri, where GM produces its Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickups, as well as the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans.
The impact will be limited to the third shift for the week beginning August 28, with production expected to restart on September 5.
GM’s Silao plant in Mexico experienced a two-week downtime but is scheduled to recommence production on the upcoming Monday. This facility contributes to the production of GM’s full-size light-duty pickups.
In Canada, GM’s Oshawa Assembly faced a temporary shutdown due to a distinct parts-related issue, with plans to resume production on Friday.
This facility is responsible for the manufacturing of heavy-duty and light-duty full-sized Silverado pickups.
GM’s Flint Assembly, where heavy-duty pickups are manufactured, has not encountered any parts-related disruptions and is operating normally.
These production adjustments at facilities such as Wentzville, Fort Wayne, Oshawa, and Silao could potentially hinder GM’s efforts to bolster inventory levels, irrespective of the possibility of a strike.
Notably, all these facilities are involved in the production of pickups, a vehicle segment currently experiencing high demand, as highlighted by Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions.
“We are working to limit the effect these actions will have on production volumes and inventory,” said GM’s spokesperson Kevin Kelly.
