General Motors is expected to idle its Pontiac Truck & Bus plant this afternoon (EST) as the strike at American Axle & Manufacturing dries up parts supply.
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Local newspaper and news agency reports said the plant is the first of several GM factories potentially facing a supply shortage if the UAW’s strike against American Axle, slated to stretch into its third day, continues.
GM is AAM’s largest customer and analysts have told the Detroit Free Press pressure will mount against the automaker if the strike lasts for more than one or two weeks.
But GM had stockpiled parts, and dealer forecourts are still well-stocked with large trucks and SUVs for which American Axle supplies parts, the paper said.
GM spokesman Tom Wickham confirmed the Pontiac shutdown to the Detroit Free Press last night (27 February).
The paper said GM provided 80% of American Axle’s sales last year – the automaker’s full-size pickups and SUVs are the basis of American Axle’s business.
