GM lays off a thousand employees, most in the United States

General Motors (GM) is laying off about a thousand workers worldwide, mostly in the United States, in an attempt to streamline its operations, a source told Reuters on Friday.

GM confirmed in a statement that it had cut jobs, but did not specify the number. In order to win in this competitive market, we have to optimize speed and excellencesaid the automaker.

As part of this ongoing effort, we have made a small number of team reductionshe added.

GM has been trying to reposition itself as a leader in electric vehicles and software, both of which are expensive. The automaker aims to cut $2 billion to $4 billion in losses next year.

According to a state notice, the reductions include 507 employees at GM’s technology center in Warren, Michigan.

In August, GM laid off more than a thousand workers in its software department to streamline the team. In September, it also laid off 1,700 workers at a Kansas manufacturing plant.

One of its most significant reductions occurred in 2023, when about 5,000 GM salaried workers took retirement to leave.

More cuts in the industry

Cost-cutting efforts have intensified across Detroit automakers and across the global industry, as companies race to make electric vehicles profitably and compete with Tesla and powerful Chinese companies.

Stellantis has laid off thousands of salaried and hourly workers this year, including 2,450 at a Michigan plant in August and 1,100 at an Ohio plant earlier this month.

Ford Motor cut shifts at its F-150 Lightning electric truck plant in Michigan, which will remain idle through the end of the year as the company faces lower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles.

Nissan and Volkswagen have also warned of plans for layoffs.

Separately, hundreds of hotel workers at a Las Vegas casino went on strike before dawn Friday, after a long and highly publicized fight over a new contract.

The strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is the first indefinite strike in 22 years promoted by the Culinary Workers Union, Nevada’s largest union.