Lordstown’s Cruze on schedule despite engine plant holdup

Plans to produce the Chevrolet Cruze from Lordstown are continuing on schedule even though General Motors has stopped construction of a factory in Michigan that is to produce the car’s engine.

The automaker remains committed to bringing the new compact car to market in mid-2010 and will use engines from another source if need be, said Chris Lee, a GM spokesman. GM is to begin selling the Cruze in Europe next year and is producing the engine for that model in Austria.

In related news, union leaders and management at the Lordstown complex are discussing a switch to a four-day workweek in February, Lee said. Workers would be on the job for 10 hours a day, instead of eight.

For more information, see Thursday’s Vindicator or www.vindy.com.