GM to add shifts at three U.S. assembly plants

General Motors said Tuesday that it would add shifts at three U.S. assembly plants, restoring 2,400 jobs, as it prepares other facilities for new products.

The addition of shifts at plants in Fairfax, Kansas, Fort Wayne, Indiana and Lansing Delta Township, Michigan comes at a time when U.S. auto manufacturers are raising production to restore depleted vehicle inventories. Dealer inventories fell sharply as the federal government's "cash for clunkers" program lifted sales in July and August with incentives of up to US$4,500 to turn in gas-guzzling vehicles and buy new more fuel-efficient models.

The Fairfax, Kansas plant will become the sole builder of the Chevrolet Malibu sedan when production ends at the Orion, Michigan plant. A shift of heavy-duty pickup production will begin in Fort Wayne, Indiana in April. The Pontiac, Michigan plant is to close at the end of September. Production of the Chevrolet Traverse SUV will move from GM's Spring Hill, Tennessee plant, which will be put on standby in November, to Lansing Delta Township, Michigan, in April.

GM said about 600 other jobs at related stamping, engine and casting facilities would be restored as well.

GM said it expected to build 535,000 vehicles in North America in the third quarter and 655,000 in the fourth quarter, down about 20% from a year ago.