Review Car

GM Shuts Down Plant Temporarily

Everyone knows that the earthquake in Japan is having more and more of an impact around the world than people have yet to realize. Just another way to drive this point home is the recent news announced by General Motors. The company has declared that the production at the Shreveport, Louisiana plant is going to be suspended since they are not getting in the parts that are needed from Japan. 

This is the first incident in which a North American plant is being affected by the Japanese earthquake. However, more are likely to be announced. The plant in Louisiana makes the Colorado and the Canyon, while employing around 923 people from the area. So far, officials have estimated that they will have the plant shut down for at least a week. However, until Japan is up and running again, the plant still has no way of producing the vehicles that are needed, therefore, people can expect that time to increase. 

The one thing that most people are pointing out is that the GM plant is closing down sooner than they expected. Mainly meaning that most other plants have a steady stream of parts to keep them moving for weeks at a time should something happen to the supplier. For example, Toyota plants in the United States are still having enough parts and supplies to continue building. Most people are assuming that GM has closed this plant down in order to divert the supplies that they have to other plants that are building those vehicles that are much better sellers. However, in either circumstance it means that the plant is closing and that there are several people that are going to be going without a steady paycheck. It is unclear how long the plant will stay closed, it really depends on how soon the Japanese suppliers are up and running again.