Giant automaker General Motors Co. (GM) is stepping up production at its Indiana factory, where it builds its popular full-size pickup trucks.
Operational Adjustments at GM
On April 3—the same day President Trump’s 25% tariffs on imported vehicles took effect—GM announced “operational adjustments” at its Fort Wayne Assembly plant.
These include hiring hundreds of temporary workers to support both current operations and an expected production increase. The company hasn’t yet confirmed the exact figures.
More Light-Duty Trucks
The Fort Wayne facility builds the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 light-duty trucks. While GM hasn’t revealed how much output will grow, it’s expected that the assembly line will increase production by 9–10 vehicles per hour—bringing the total up to around 65.
GM noted that adjusting schedules is part of its standard inventory strategy. The company’s Q1 sales report showed a 7.6% drop for Silverados and a 14% rise for Sierras.
More Employees
Rich LeTourneau, the chairman of United Auto Workers Local 2209, said the plant will bring in around 225 to 250 new full-time temporary workers, plus some part-time staff to fill several roles, including additional daily and weekend overtime
The union says the number of new hires is double what was requested in 2024. The Fort Wayne plant currently employs 4,149 workers across three shifts.
Other GM Plants
GM also builds full-size trucks at its Oshawa Assembly in Ontario and its Silao Plant in Mexico. According to a company source, no production changes are planned at these locations for now.
Image Credit: Shutterstock/John Gress Media Inc
