GM Lordstown production back on Oct. 2

Staff report

LORDSTOWN

Production of the Chevrolet Cruze is back on for the week of Oct. 2 at the General Motors Lordstown Complex.

Last week, the plant’s 3,000 employees were informed that production would be down this week, the week of Sept. 25 and Oct. 2, but GM has now readjusted the schedule, and production will take place during the first week of October, United Auto Workers Local 1112 President Glenn Johnson said.

The down weeks were set to align supply with demand for the Chevrolet Cruze and because of supplier constraint. Specifics on the supplier issue weren’t released.

Both Johnson and Robert Morales, president of the UAW Local 1714, saw the readjustment as positive that could mean demand for the Cruze is up.

“Something generated in a positive way,” Morales said.

Demand for compact and mid-size cars has continued to slow this year as demand for crossovers and sport utility vehicles increases.

The slowdown in car sales led to the loss of the third shift at the Lordstown plant and several weeks of downtime this year. The plant had three weeks downtime in March, a two-week scheduled vacation in June and three weeks down in July.