General Motors temporarily halted production of the new GM Korea-designed Sonic at its Orion Township, Michigan plant on 1 and 2 November due to a ‘parts shortage’.
A company spokesman would not detail the affected part(s) saying only that GM was working with the supplier to resolve the issue.
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Around 1,500 assembly workers were affected by the stoppage.
The US-built Sonic (Aveo in most other markets) effectively revived the Orion plant – originally slated for closure in 2009 – after GM agreed a business case that would transfer production from Korea (where the previous generation sold in the US was made) in return for United Auto Workers agreement to a two-tier wage structure that pays newer workers considerably less than older hands but again makes small car production in the US viable.
The plant is now the only one in the US making a subcompact car – it builds both Sonic hatchbacks and sedans and recently added the larger Buick Verano compact sedan ahead of a December sales launch.
