The consolidated line at General Motors’ Oshawa Car Assembly Plant in Ontario will close in 2017, a source close to the matter has told The Windsor Star.
The consolidated line is currently tasked with building overflow supply of the second-generation Chevrolet Equinox. The main site of production for the popular mid-size crossover is GM’s CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario.
It’s not clear when in 2017 the consolidated line will close, but the source said it would likely shut down mid-year when production of the second-generation Equinox ends. The third-generation version of the crossover is expected to be built at CAMI.
Oshawa’s flex line, which builds the Buick Regal, Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac XTS, could stay open beyond 2017 if talks with Canadian labor union Unifor are successful. Unlike the consolidated line, the flex line is up-to-date and is capable of producing different vehicles with differing platforms.
Unifor president Jerry Dias isn’t ruling out the possibility of securing more overflow production from CAMI once the new Equinox enters production, but such a turn of events would depend on the initial sales success of the crossover.
“The life of that plant has been extended a few times and I don’t expect that to change. There will be overflow from CAMI for several years,” he said.
Before any official decisions can be made in regards to both the consolidated and flex lines, GM Canada will have to enter negotiations with Unifor.
“We really view negotiations as a key first hurdle that we need to get over if we’re going to find a solution for the future there, and we obviously have been clear we don’t have a designated replacement product that would go in for those products that are running there now,” the anonymous source said.
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