Fort Wayne GM plant closure to extend another week
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Officials with General Motors will extend a closure at the automaker’s Fort Wayne Assembly Plant a week longer than expected.
GM executives said last week they would halt production at the plant in Roanoke, 16 miles southwest of Fort Wayne, until Sept. 5 due to a “temporary part shortage.”
Our partners at WPTA-TV in Fort Wayne are now reporting Fort Wayne Assembly Plant employees have been informed the closure will extend through Sept. 8.
“GM is actively working with our supplier to resolve the issues that have arisen so we can begin producing the vehicles that are in such high demand with our dealers and customers,” the message reads, as reported by WPTA.
Officials in that message said they have “every intention” of resuming production on Sept. 11.
The pause is not unfamiliar to the Fort Wayne plant. GM halted production several times in 2020 and 2021 due to both the COVID-19 pandemic and an ongoing semiconductor shortage.
In June, GM announced a $632 investment in the Fort Wayne plant to support the production of next-generation internal combustion engine full-size light-duty trucks. The Fort Wayne plant currently produces the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks.
The extended stoppage comes as the threat of a United Auto Workers strike looms. The Associated Press reported last week that 97% of about 146,000 unionized workers voted in favor of a strike against Stellantis, GM and Ford. Contracts with the three automakers expire at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14.