GM Targets May 18th For Reopening Plants In U.S. And Canada After COVID-19 Shutdown

General Motors is targeting May 18th for reopening its U.S. and Canadian vehicle assembly plants, the automaker said in a memo sent to UAW members on Tuesday.

“GM plans to begin a limited, cadenced, and site-specific approach for a return to the workplace in many of our North American manufacturing facilities,” the memo said. “We are targeting Monday, May 18, and we are collaborating with state governments and union partners. We are confident that we have an approach that allows us to move into this next phase with safety as our guide.”

UAW President Rory Gamble also confirmed the union is on board with the May 18th start date after he previously expressed concern over the automaker restarting production too early.

“The companies contractually make that decision and we all knew this day would come at some point,” Gamble said in a prepared statement. “Our UAW focus and role is and will continue to be, on health and safety protocols to protect our members.”

Crucially, GM has agreed to pay workers who are forced to quarantine for up to 14 days. The UAW had said the Big Three must agree to pay workers who are self quarantining after contracting COVID-19 or coming into contact with someone who had the virus, as employees may be apprehensive to report symptoms if they believed they would lose pay over it.

GM is expected to make an official announcement with regard to the May 18th restart date sometime on Wednesday.

In a 48-page handbook released last week, GM outlined the safety measures it will take to curb the spread of COVID-19 at its production plants once they come back online. These protocols will include taking employees’ temperatures when they arrive at work, setting up hand sanitizing stations and staggering work shifts to reduce the number of employees that are concentrated in one area. The automaker developed the handbook using lessons learned at some of its plants in China and Korea, along with its ventilator production facility in Kokomo, Indiana.

GM was forced to temporarily shut down its U.S. and Canadian assembly plants in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The automaker is eager to get its plants back online as its vehicle inventory dwindles, particularly its Arlington Assembly plant, which will build the new line of full-size SUVs, and its various pickup truck plants.

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Source: The Detroit Free Press

Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

Sam McEachern

Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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  • Excellent! I have a Cadillac CT5-V that was 10 days shy of production when the assembly plants shut down. Hopefully now my finished product will hit the dealership by late June(ish)

    • Yeah I had a loaded wave blue CT5-V ordered also back in April. How did you know the production date? Thanks

      • My CT5-V AWD is also a loaded Wave Blue. My information comes through my salesman, who somehow plugs the order number into some computer database that knows "projected" production week, (They're all Monday dates, which means it'll be built sometime during that week) order status, production status, shipping status, etc.

  • Me also. My Silverado HD was scheduled for production Mar 16. May have missed production in all the drama going on. I'm thinking mid June also.

  • If you have a vehicle on order, how can you find out where it is in the build process? I have a GMC 1500 AT4 ordered April 11th.

    • If you hav an order number, then try the chat feature on the GMC.com website. Alternatively, your dealer might be able to tell you.

      • Also, to be honest, It was originally explained to me that the provided production dates (such as the ones for me and Anthony in here) are actually production THAT WEEK. Not necessarily THAT DAY. For me, that means since mine was set for production roughly 10 days after the plants closed, I'm GUESSING it'll be built "roughly" 10 days after production resumes. (End of May-ish) Then a few weeks, or so, shipping to my dealer in the pacific northwest. (End of June-ish) That's how I'm figuring late June, early July.
        Truth be told, I'm doing a little guessing and a LOT of hoping!
        Also, my salesman routinely runs my order number looking for status changes. Perhaps if you ask, your salesman will too.

  • Anthony Armenta if your production date is schedule for March 16 when did you order your truck? I ordered my RST truck on February 20th.

  • I have a vehicle that was already built, just awaiting shipment. REALLY looking forward to when they reopen.

    • Wow, you must have JUST missed shipping. I know the dealership I'm working with received a Cadillac CT4-V for stock (and several other vehicles) after the assembly plants closed.