GM To Add Third Shifts

As Posted to the Wall Street Journal

General Motors Co. will add a third shift to three plants, restoring 2,400 jobs in its second move to put U.S. employees back to work and boost production.

GM and rivals Chrysler Group LLC and Ford Motor Co. have been attempting to respond to new demand without relapsing into a habit of producing too much product and then relying on incentives to reduce the inventory.

Last month, the nation's largest auto maker by sales said it would increase North American production by 20% in the fourth quarter and put 1,350 employees back to work. It was GM's first production increase since global auto sales began their sharp decline last year.

The company said Tuesday that it will add the shifts to its Fairfax, Kan.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Lansing Delta Township, Mich., plants.

The Fairfax plant will become the only builder of the Chevrolet Malibu when the Orion, Mich., plant ends production of the car in November.

In Fort Wayne, GM said it will add production of heavy-duty pickups. The Lansing Delta Township facility will add the Chevy Traverse to its production. The new shifts in Fort Wayne and Lansing are set to begin in April.