Quick Takeaways
- GM Oshawa Assembly Plant layoffs highlight how U.S. trade policy is reshaping North American auto production.
- GM Canada prepares for future pickup programs while reducing workforce at its Oshawa facility.
On January 27, multiple reports confirmed that General Motors will eliminate the third production shift at its Oshawa Assembly Plant effective January 30, resulting in layoffs affecting approximately 700 workers. The move reflects continued pressure from evolving trade tensions that are forcing automakers to reassess their North American manufacturing strategies.
The decision follows the introduction of U.S. trade measures under Donald Trump, who imposed tariffs of up to 25% on Canadian-built vehicles entering the United States starting April 2025. Limited exemptions apply only to vehicles that meet compliance requirements under the USMCA framework.
The shift reduction at the Oshawa facility had been anticipated for more than eight months. However, GM postponed the action in September due to sustained demand for light-duty Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models produced at the plant, allowing the third shift to continue until market conditions softened.
GM Canada spokesperson Ariane Souza Pereira said that the company will prepare to build the next generation of full-sized pickups at the plant even while it reverts to two shifts on January 30.
According to Unifor Local 222 President Jeff Gray, who represents nearly 3,000 hourly workers at the facility, the workforce reduction is directly tied to U.S. tariff policy. He stated,
Gray added that the impact extends beyond the 700 direct positions being cut, estimating that an additional 1,000 jobs across the automotive supply chain will be affected as production volumes decline at the Oshawa site.
The Oshawa shift reduction marks one of two significant pullbacks in Canadian operations for GM within the past four months. In October 2025, the automaker ended production at its nearby CAMI Assembly Plant, which had been manufacturing the now-discontinued BrightDrop 400/600 electric delivery vans, underscoring the broader restructuring of GM’s Canadian manufacturing footprint.
The decision follows the introduction of U.S. trade measures under Donald Trump, who imposed tariffs of up to 25% on Canadian-built vehicles entering the United States starting April 2025. Limited exemptions apply only to vehicles that meet compliance requirements under the USMCA framework.
The shift reduction at the Oshawa facility had been anticipated for more than eight months. However, GM postponed the action in September due to sustained demand for light-duty Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models produced at the plant, allowing the third shift to continue until market conditions softened.
GM Canada spokesperson Ariane Souza Pereira said that the company will prepare to build the next generation of full-sized pickups at the plant even while it reverts to two shifts on January 30.
According to Unifor Local 222 President Jeff Gray, who represents nearly 3,000 hourly workers at the facility, the workforce reduction is directly tied to U.S. tariff policy. He stated,
- “With us losing 50,000 light duties per year, and Fort Wayne, Indiana gaining 50,000 light-duty trucks per year, it looks pretty obvious to us why they’re moving the truck.”
Gray added that the impact extends beyond the 700 direct positions being cut, estimating that an additional 1,000 jobs across the automotive supply chain will be affected as production volumes decline at the Oshawa site.
The Oshawa shift reduction marks one of two significant pullbacks in Canadian operations for GM within the past four months. In October 2025, the automaker ended production at its nearby CAMI Assembly Plant, which had been manufacturing the now-discontinued BrightDrop 400/600 electric delivery vans, underscoring the broader restructuring of GM’s Canadian manufacturing footprint.
Company Press Release
Click above to visit the official source.
Share: