GM to Shut Wisconsin, Michigan Plants

GM to Shut Wisconsin, Michigan Plants

General Motors Corp. says it will close its metal stamping plant near Grand Rapids, Mich., by the end of 2009, costing about 1,340 hourly jobs. Workers at the factory in the suburb of Wyoming, Mich. were notified Monday afternoon of the planned shutdown. The move comes as GM tries to cut costs in the middle of a U.S. sales slump and global financial crisis that has led to a big slump in vehicle sales. The automaker announced earlier Monday that it would end sport utility vehicle production at its Janesville, Wis., factory in December, which is earlier than previously announced. The plant will close in mid-2009.