General Motors Again Idles Van Nuys Plant

General Motors’ Van Nuys assembly plant is again closed this week because of sluggish sales, temporarily idling the plant’s 3,200 workers.

The closure continues the recent pattern by GM, Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Corp. of temporarily shuttering various plants to trim their bloated inventories. Overall, about 64,000 workers will be on temporary layoff this week as the Big Three car makers cut production.

GM also plans to halve production at Van Nuys on April 2, resulting in the indefinite layoff of 850 workers. The plant is GM’s sole source for the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird.