GM to Close 4 Plants Temporarily After Japan Earthquakes

In a brief announcement Friday morning, General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) said it would begin two-week closures at four North American manufacturing plants as a result of supply chain problems caused by the recent earthquakes in Japan. Closures are scheduled to begin on Monday at plants in Spring Hill, Tenn.; Oshawa, Ontario; Lordstown, Ohio; and Fairfax, Kan.

GM said the temporary shutdowns are not expected to have any material impact on its full-year North American production plans, nor does it expect a material impact on either second-quarter or full-year financial results.

The Spring Hill facility current produces the Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia. The plant also manufactures four-cylinder engines and includes a stamping facility, a body shop, a paint shop and two injection-molding operations.  As of last month there were 2,643 employees in Spring Hill.

Lordstown is where GM builds its Chevy Cruze. The plant employs 4,150 hourly union workers and 350 salaried employees.
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The Fairfax plant currently manufactures the Chevy Malibu. More than 3,200 hourly union workers are employed at the facility, along with 270 salaried staff.

The GM plant in Oshawa manufactures the Chevy Camaro and Impala, the Buick Regal and the Cadillac XTS on its flex line and the fleet Impala and Chevy Equinox on its consolidated line. The company has 23,000 employees in Canada at three separate locations.

GM stock traded down about 1.2% in the noon hour Friday, at $32.28 in a 52-week range of $24.62 to $36.88.