General Motors Co said on Wednesday it would cut U.S. electric vehicle and battery production and eliminate 1,200 jobs at its Detroit electric vehicle plant and 550 jobs at a battery plant in Ohio to combat slowing demand for battery vehicles.
The company said it would halt production at its two U.S. joint venture battery factories in Tennessee and Ohio for about six months in January next year, adding that it would also temporarily lay off about 1,550 workers at the two battery factories.
Additionally, at its Ohio plant, General Motors said it would lay off 550 workers indefinitely. GM jointly operates the plant with South Korea's LG New Energy.
General Motors said it would cut production at its Detroit electric vehicle plant to one shift starting in January next year, down from two shifts after layoffs. The company said this would reduce the plant's output by about 50%. The plant produces three large electric pickup trucks, including the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, as well as the electric Escalade IQ and Hummer SUV.
GM said the move was "in response to the recent slowdown in EV adoption and changes in the regulatory environment." The company is lobbying Congress and the White House to relax emissions requirements and last month cut production of electric vehicles.