2005 Chevy Blazer Overview

Just how slow were sales? Well, as of October 2004, no Jimmys had been sold in the United States at

Even with the launch of newer vehicles, GM saw a market for the less expensive SUVs and therefore production continued and the plant stayed open for about 3 years. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

all for the year, down from just 52 sold through October in 2003. Instead, the outgoing GMC had been sold in Canada, and still is, along with the Blazer. The Blazer has done much better in the U.S., which wouldn't be difficult, yet demand was down 27.5 percent toward the end of 2004, to 31,271 units sold through October.

Initially when the new Chevy TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy were introduced, their two smaller, less refined predecessors were to be cancelled, but GM saw a market for the less expensive SUVs and therefore production continued and the plant stayed open for about 3 years, as of this date.

The Linden facility, opened in 1937, housed a total of 2.6 million square feet of floor space. It dropped its second shift in 2002, when sales of the aging sport utilities began to wane. Reports cite the plant's location, outside of the majority of supplier hubs, its age, GM's current eroding market share and a general

The Linden facility, opened in 1937, housing a total of 2.6 million square feet of floor space. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

economic slump as reasons behind the plant closure, emphasizing that the move was not a result of the quality or skill of the Linden workforce.

So when was the last time GM shut down an assembly plant? The year was 1999, the place Flint, Michigan and the facility the Buick City complex. The closure brought international scrutiny, much in part to a film made by controversial documentary maker Michael Moore, called "Roger and Me", named for previous GM CEO Roger Smith. Obviously GM will make sure not to be at the brunt end of such public criticism again, and word has it the automaker is working with displaced employees to assist in finding replacement jobs, either within the GM family or outside.