General Motors of Canada announced on May 12 that its Windsor transmission plant will close in the second quarter of 2010, leaving 1,400 workers without jobs.
The 45-year-old Windsor, Ontario-based plant builds front-wheel drive, four-speed transmissions for export to the U.S. and Mexico to be installed in regular and hybrid models of Pontiac G5 and G6, Chevrolet Cobalt, Malibu and HHR, and Saturn Aura and Vue.
General Motors blamed the closure on a shift from the four-speed to the more fuel-efficient six-speed transmissions.
"We have worked extensively with our labor and government partners but have been led to the unavoidable conclusion that there are no available replacement products in the relevant timeframe for this location," said GM Canada president Arturo Elias.
In April, GM announced the closure of its truck plant in Oshawa, Ontario, cutting 900 to 1,000 jobs, according to the Canadian Auto Workers union.
The latest job cuts come as the union negotiates a new labor contract with GM, which employs more than 15,000 people nationwide.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2008
