General Motors scales back on big vehicles

Published: April 29, 2008 at 4:40 PM
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General Motors showcased its new hybrid plug-in concept car, the Chevrolet  Volt, in Washington on July 20, 2007. The Volt can drive up to 40 miles without using any gasoline and is expected to get 50-150 miles per gallon thereafter.    (UPI Photo/David Brody)
General Motors showcased its new hybrid plug-in concept car, the Chevrolet Volt, in Washington on July 20, 2007. The Volt can drive up to 40 miles without using any gasoline and is expected to get 50-150 miles per gallon thereafter. (UPI Photo/David Brody) | Enlarge Enlarge
DETROIT, April 29 (UPI) -- General Motors Corp. announced the move toward more fuel efficient cars would cost employees 3,500 jobs at four North American car plants.

The cuts include scaling back production by 50,000 SUVs and 88,000 pickup trucks, The Detroit News reported.

The company will cut back one shift at four different locations, the News reported Tuesday.

A shift would be lost at Flint and Pontiac, Mich.; Oshawa, Ontario; and Janesville, Wis., the report said.

The cut backs start July 14.

Auto analyst Joe Phillippi of AutoTrends Consulting Inc. lamented the decision to scale back on bigger vehicles. "These are the most profitable things they make," he said.

Phillippi told the News the lost of revenue from the switch "is going to hurt for the next three quarters."

In 2007, GM built 2.7 million trucks.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



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