Workers stunned as GM abruptly axes over 1,700 jobs in Michigan and Ohio as sales falter
General Motors has laid off 1,700 workers across manufacturing sites in Michigan and Ohio.
The company cited a slowdown in the electric vehicle market as the reason for the mass layoffs.
There were around 1,200 layoffs at Detroit's electric vehicle plant and 550 cuts at Ohio's Ultium Cells battery cell plant, the company confirmed.
Additionally, there have been 850 temporary layoffs at that site in Ohio and 700 at Ultium Cells' Tennessee plant.
'In response to slower near-term EV adoption and an evolving regulatory environment, General Motors is realigning EV capacity,' the company said in a statement.
'Despite these changes, GM remains committed to our U.S. manufacturing footprint, and we believe our investments and dedication to flexible operations will make GM more resilient and capable of leading through change.'
GM also said it will temporarily pause battery cell production at its Ohio and Tennessee plants starting in January, with plans to restart by mid-2026 after upgrading the facilities.
The company confirmed to the Daily Mail on Tuesday that it is axing 300 positions and closing a Georgia tech hub.
General Motors has laid off 1,700 workers across manufacturing sites in Michigan and Ohio
General Motors is America's largest car company, selling 2.7 million vehicles each year. The company's stock is up 46 percent in the past six months
There were around 1,200 layoffs at Detroit's electric vehicle plant and 550 cuts at Ohio's Ultium Cells battery cell plant
That news came after GM — the maker of Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick cars — issued 200 additional pink slips at its technical center in Warren, Michigan.
It also comes after the company stopped production at its Canadian facilities that built its electric panel van, Brightdrop. 950 staffers were placed on temporary leave.
GM's job cuts are the latest in a string of billion-dollar companies slashing white-collar jobs in the US.
The Georgia facility first opened in 2013 to focus on in-car software and dealership data. At its peak, the center employed around 900 people.
The company tells the Daily Mail that remaining workers will be offered positions at other US IT hubs or will work remotely.
A GM spokesperson said the latest decision isn't directly tied to AI replacing workers. The facility is expected to hit the market for sale next month.
Tuesday's layoffs also come as GM's sales this year have been through the roof. Last week, the company posted an 8 percent sales increase compared to the same quarter last year, including a massive 105 percent surge in EV sales.
The company's stock price has risen more than 46 percent in the past six months, including a 13 percent spike since September.
GM's CEO, Mary Barra, has been on a tech blitz, unveiling a series of upcoming technologies for the automaker's upcoming products and factories
The company cited a slowdown in the electric vehicle market as the reason for the mass layoffs
GM and its Detroit nemesis, Ford, have been on a continued Wall Street win streak since April, when their shares were crashing after President Donald Trump unveiled steep automotive and aluminum tariffs.
Investors have been bullish on GM's approach to AI, including its deployment of manufacturing 'co-bots' that are expected to work with human workers on manufacturing floors, and upcoming vehicle innovations.
Last week, at a press event attended by the Daily Mail, the automaker unveiled a slate of new technologies coming to its future cars, including 'eyes off' self-driving.
But the updated software has ruffled feathers: customers have spoken out against the automaker after it unveiled that the new tech systems would replace Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Both systems, which mirror a driver's phone interface on the dashboard, let users safely access apps like Google Maps, Messages, and Spotify while driving.
They're extremely popular.
A July study by AutoPacific found that more than 60 percent of shoppers wouldn't buy a car without either system.
GM's job cuts add to a bleak outlook for Americans seeking new roles. Layoffs have risen 140 percent from a year ago, even though corporate earnings are strong and stocks are on a record pace.
