General Motors is preparing to lay off nearly 1,300 workers at two Michigan factories at the beginning of next year, company filings confirmed on Thursday. The layoffs, which were announced ahead of time internally, come as GM prepares to end production on several vehicle models and shift to manufacturing electric alternatives.
According to documents submitted to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, the larger of the two layoffs will take place at GM’s Orion Assembly facility, where 945 workers who build Chevrolet Bolt EVs will be let go once production on the vehicle ends next week. Assembly on Bolt models will continue until the week of December 18, but the layoffs will not begin until January 15.
The Orion factory will then be shut down and reconfigured to build electric trucks, with an anticipated reopening in late 2025.
Related: United Autoworkers Reach Agreement with Big Three, End 6-Week Strike
An additional 369 workers will be laid off at GM’s Lansing Grand River Assembly/Stamping, where production on gas-powered Chevrolet Camaros will likewise end next week. Company documents reveal that waves of layoffs will begin on January 2 and continue until the end of March.
The Lansing factory will continue to manufacture Cadillac CT4s and CT5s. GM announced that hourly employees will be able to transfer to other facilities, stating that “placement opportunities in other local GM plants will be available for most, if not all,” of those affected.
Unemployment benefits for employees who are not relocated will be provided through the United Autoworkers union, which renegotiated its contract with GM, along with Ford and Stellantis, earlier this year.
General Motors had previously announced that the company would be discontinuing all gas-powered vehicles by 2035, but was forced to reassess its annual electric vehicle manufacturing goals in October of this year.
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