GM to pause most full-size pickup production due to chips shortage

General Motors has done everything it can to protect production of its in-demand and highly profitable full-size pickups from the ongoing global shortage of semiconductor chips used in many car parts.

But now GM will be pausing most of its pickup production in North America.

In a notice to union members obtained by the Free Press, and confirmed by GM, the automaker will make the following production adjustments starting Monday:

Flint Assembly, where GM builds the full-size heavy duty Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, will operate on one shift for the week and is expected to resume regular production on Aug. 2.

Fort Wayne Assembly in Indiana, where GM builds the full-size light-duty pickups, will be idled for the week, expected to resume regular production on Aug. 2.

Silao Assembly in Mexico, which also builds full-size light-duty pickups, will idle for the week and is expected to resume regular production on Aug. 2.

“These most recent scheduling adjustments are being driven by temporary parts shortages caused by semiconductor supply constraints from international markets experiencing Covid-19-related restrictions,” GM spokesman David Barnas said in a statement. “We expect it to be a near-term issue.”

The news comes less than seven days after GM said it would have to idle four of its North American plants that build midsize SUVS — including Lansing Delta Township Assembly — starting July 19 and running for two weeks due to the chips shortage.

Steve Fecht/general Motors/tns, File General Motors Flint Assembly employees Al Havens (left) and Dan Hippensteel work on a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD truck during final assembly in 2015 in Flint, Michigan. The company will run the plant on one shift for a week starting July 26, 2021, due to the shortage of semiconductor chip parts.