2005 GMC Safari Overview

When the Astro and Safari started to reach the end of their lifecycles over the last several years, General Motors management

"GM can no longer justify building these two products at volumes that are significantly below the plant's capacity," said Joe Spielman, GM vice president and general manager of Vehicle Manufacturing. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

initiated a variety of production changes to better align production with slower demand. First the plant's second shift was eliminated in the summer of 2000, and after that production output was slowed gradually. Sales of the Astro totaled only 15,709 in 2003, down 16.1 percent from 2002 and less than half of 1998's 32,736 total production. While the two vans were once best-sellers, during the first 10 months of 2004 production at Baltimore amounted to about 41,000 units, not enough to build a continued business case on. With deliveries continuing to decline, the vans also didn't warrant the investment needed to meet new 2005 safety standards.

"Long-term market softening and the products' lifecycle have driven GM to make

The 1,000 hourly and 100 salaried employees at the Baltimore facility where the vans are built will now be without jobs. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

this difficult yet necessary decision," stated Joe Spielman, GM vice president and general manager of Vehicle Manufacturing, when announcing GM's decision to shutter the plant back in November. "GM can no longer justify building these two products at volumes that are significantly below the plant's capacity."

When the plant was last in use, General Motors employed about 1,000 hourly and 100 salaried employees at the Baltimore facility, which are now be without jobs. While the UAW/GM National Agreement provides a comprehensive plan and provisions for the employees affected by the decision to close the plant, in addition GM management will assist affected salaried employees who are willing to relocate to find jobs at other company locations.