Automotive
GM temporarily halting output at two plants on Helene supply-chain snarls
Written by Ethan Bernard
October 4, 2024
General Motors is temporarily stopping production at a plant in Michigan and one in Texas due to supply-chain fallout from Hurricane Helene.
“Production at Flint Assembly (in Mich.) is cancelled for all shifts on Oct. 4, and Arlington Assembly (in Texas) is canceled for all shifts on Oct. 4 and 7 because of impacts to suppliers as a result of Hurricane Helene,” a spokeswoman for GM said in a statement to SMU.
“We are working with these suppliers to resume operations as quickly and safely as possible for their employees and communities, as we seek to minimize impacts on our plants,” she added.
Flint Assembly has 4,617 employees and manufactures heavy-duty crew and regular cab trucks. These include the Chevrolet Silverado HD and the GMC Sierra HD Denali and Sierra HD.
Arlington Assembly has 5,410 employees and builds full-size SUVs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, as well as the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade-V.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on Sept. 26 and sowed damage across the Southeast, with western North Carolina particularly hard hit. The death toll has topped 200, according to a story in USA Today.
UPDATE: On Monday, Oct. 7, GM sent the following statement to SMU: “After a brief pause in production at GM’s Flint and Arlington assembly plants due to supplier-related issues in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, production will resume at both plants.”
The automaker said Flint has already resumed operation, while Arlington will resume Monday evening on third shift.
“Our teams are confident we can make up any lost production over the coming days and weeks,” GM added.
Ethan Bernard
Read more from Ethan BernardLatest in Automotive
Price on Trade: Auto tariffs, auto parts, and Hyundai – a world of rapid changes
Trump's new auto tariffs will apply to passenger vehicles (including sedans, sport utility vehicles, crossover utility vehicles, minivans, and cargo vans), light trucks, and certain automobile parts (including engines and engine parts, transmissions and powertrain parts, and electrical components).
US chassis makers seek duties on imports from Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam
Upon the request of US chassis manufacturers, the Commerce Department this week initiated investigations into the alleged dumping and subsidization of chassis imported from Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Trump: 25% auto tariffs to begin on ‘Liberation Day’
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a proclamation that will impose a 25% tariff on most imported passenger vehicles.
Hyundai formalizes plan to build $5.8B steel mill in Louisiana
South Korea’s Hyundai has formally announced a nearly $6-billion investment to build a steel mill in Louisiana to supply steel for the company’s automotive interests in the southeastern US.
Cliffs CEO touts employee cash bonus for buying US-made vehicles
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has introduced a new employee incentive program to promote American-made vehicles, support domestic production, and strengthen US supply chains.