GM planning to resume production at Lansing Grand River plant beginning next week

LANSING – General Motors is preparing to resume production at its Lansing Grand River Assembly plant after a lengthy shutdown caused by the global semiconductor shortage.

A company spokesman on Monday confirmed the plant is expected to resume production May 3.

In an update posted on its website, UAW Local 652 said certain departments were asking workers to volunteer for shifts this week, while all of general assembly would report for work May 3.

The local union represents hourly workers at the plant, which has been idle since mid-May.

"This situation continues to be very fluid and volatile, affecting multiple GM assembly plants in addition to other makers and industries," the update said. "Production plans after the week of 05/03/2021 will be on a week-to-week basis," the update said.

GM Authority, a trade publication not affiliated with the automaker, reported that some areas of the plant will go back online beginning May 3.

The website referred to an Automotive News report saying full production would gradually return through the month of May.

The Grand River plant builds the Chevrolet Camaro and Cadillac CT4 and CT5 models and employs about 1,400 people. It's been idle since March 15 because of the semiconductor shortage, which also has affected many other auto plants.

GM's Lansing Delta Township Assembly plant also was idled for a short time this month but is now back in production.

GM said its CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario and Fairfax Assembly in Kansas will remain idled through at least the week of May 10. Both plants have been down since Feb. 8.

Beginning this week, Wentzville Assembly in Missouri will temporarily move from three general assembly production shifts to two, GM said. That arrangement will continue until the plant goes down for its scheduled launch changeover in the week of May 24, the company said.

Nearly every U.S. automaker has been forced to cut production in some way because of the worldwide shortage of semiconductor chips, the Associated Press has reported.

Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.