General Motors Corp. said Monday it plans to cut one shift at four North American factories that make pickup trucks and big sport utility vehicles, laying off about 3,500 workers. The world's largest automaker said the cuts are due to sagging sales, brought on by high gasoline prices and an economic downturn. GM said the cuts will affect pickup factories in Pontiac and Flint, Mich., and Oshawa, Ontario, as well as the full-size SUV plant in Janesville, Wis. The company said the cuts mean it will make about 88,000 fewer pickups and 50,000 fewer big SUVs this calendar year.
See "GM eliminates a shift at four factories", Associated Press, CNN Money, April 27, 2008