GM extends the life of its only Detroit plant until early 2020

DETROIT (AP) – General Motors is extending the life of its only Detroit plant until early next year.

The plant on the border between Detroit and Hamtramck hamlet was to stop producing vehicles as of June 1st. But the company now says production of the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6 will continue until January 2020.

The plant is one of five factories that GM plans to close as part of a restructuring to reduce costs and underutilized plants.

In total, GM is cutting about 6,000 factory jobs and 8,000 other paid jobs.

The company said the plant would remain open as it would produce a high-performance version of the CT6 and vehicles equipped with its advanced "Super Cruise" driver assistance system.

But the factory is likely to close early next year.

GM announced the restructuring plans in November. In addition to the Detroit plant, the company plans to stop producing cars and transmitting emissions in factories in Lordstown, Ohio; Oshawa, Ontario; Warren, Michigan; and near Baltimore. The company says it has 2,700 jobs available for factory workers at other US plants.

Technically, the company can not shut down factories without negotiating with the United Auto Workers union, and many workers hope their factories can be saved in contract negotiations starting this summer. But GM says it has too much capacity to build cars, with the US market dramatically turning into SUVs and trucks.

Union leaders welcomed the extension of the Detroit plant and promised to fight against other closures.

"Let me repeat that the UAW will spare no effort to keep your factories open, and we hope the news today will bring some hope as we pursue this. important work, "said Friday President Gary Jones.

GM spokesman Dan Flores said that about 700 workers at the time were still at the Detroit plant, compared to 1,348 in November. Most of the laid-off people were placed in other factories, most of them in a pickup truck factory in Flint, Michigan.