General Motors’ Silao, Mexico plant is set to shut down the first two weeks of August, a move that follows a similar pause in July. While the timing aligns with recent tariff actions, the automaker says the shutdowns are part of normal operations and are not related to changing trade conditions.
GM responded to a Reuters inquiry, saying, “Scheduled down weeks at GM Silao are part of a standard operating process focused on optimizing production at our manufacturing complex.” The automaker builds the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra at the facility, two of its most popular and profitable models.
Downtime is common across the industry as automakers retool factory lines and make changes between model years. That said, extended pauses on high-volume models like full-size trucks are less common, as many production facilities run three full shifts to keep pace with demand.
GM also builds the trucks at its factories in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Ontario, Canada, which were not shut down. The automaker has seen decent full-size truck sales in the first half of the year, with increases for both the Silverado and Sierra. Despite that, continued trade friction could cause issues, as even the trucks built in the United States rely on parts and other components coming from north and south of the border.
[Images: General Motors]
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