GM lays off 1,000 employees DETROIT — General Motors Co.
The U.S. automaker laid off about 1,000 employees on Friday in an effort to cut costs and realign priorities in light of changing market conditions, according to a person familiar with the decision.
The layoffs, announced Friday morning to those affected, spanned across the company. Some were due to poor performance, while others were part of a review of the automaker’s priorities, according to the person, who agreed to speak about the decision on condition of anonymity.
Most of the employees affected were based in suburban Detroit at the company’s global technical center in Warren, Michigan, the person said. The decision includes a small number of hourly employees.
A GM spokesman confirmed the layoffs but declined to disclose the total amount.
“To win in this competitive market, we need to improve speed and excellence,” GM spokesman Kevin Kelly said in an emailed statement. “That includes operating efficiently, making sure we have the right team structure, and focusing on our top priorities as a company.” “As part of this ongoing effort, we have made a small number of team reductions. We are grateful to those who have helped build a strong foundation that positions GM to be an industry leader in the future.”
The layoffs on Friday follow the layoffs of more than 1,000 employees in GM’s software and services division in August.
GM had 76,000 employees worldwide at the end of last year, including about 53,000 in the United States.
The United Auto Workers union, which represents hourly workers at the automaker, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
