General Motors Co. will halt production at several factories in North America and shut down at some others due to a prolonged shortage of semiconductor chips that are disrupting the automotive industry’s hopes of a setback this year.
The automaker said Thursday that three plants previously unaffected by the scarcity shortage will be idle for one or two weeks or reduce production, including a factory in Tennessee and another in Michigan. which manufactures popular mid-size SUVs. Affected vehicles include the Chevrolet Traverse SUV and the Cadillac XT5 and XT6 SUVs.
GM is also extending the closure of a plant in Kansas City and a plant in Ontario until May 10. Both facilities have been closed since February, as GM diverts chips from less popular models to large pickups and SUVs, which is the biggest gain. producer.
“GM continues to use every available semiconductor to build and ship our most popular and popular products,” a company spokesman said. So far, GM has avoided stopping at the four factories where it makes the company’s largest pickups and SUVs, he said.
Meanwhile, GM said it was resuming April 12 production at a factory in Missouri that manufactures medium-sized pickups and has been idling for two weeks due to the shortage of chips.