General Motors will eliminate about half the work force at its Martinsburg, West Virginia, plant over the next few years, the company said on Wednesday.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more


Katie McBride, a spokeswoman for GM Service and Parts Operations, told the Associated Press (AP) between 50 and 100 jobs will be moved out of the plant within the next six months as the company shifts packaging responsibilities to three processing plants in Michigan. The remaining 150 to 200 processing jobs will be moved within the next several years, she said.


GM’s Martinsburg complex employs about 440 workers, according to AP. The remaining distribution centre provides parts to GM dealers in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.


“We are – like everyone else in the automotive industry – under tremendous pressure to improve customer satisfaction and improve operational efficiency,” McBride told the news agency. “We’ve analysed our supply chain strategy, and looked at how we can better serve the customer and streamline our delivery process.”


Under a contract with the United Auto Workers, the transferred positions are not considered layoffs. Workers will be given the option to move to other GM plants or other work will be found for them in the Martinsburg area, McBride reportedly said.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The Associated Press noted that GM previously trimmed more than 200 jobs from the Martinsburg plant’s work force when it opened a $US26 million, 380,000-square-foot parts distribution centre in 2001. That investment had allayed earlier fears that GM might leave the state entirely.