Volvo Trucks to lay off up to 1,100 workers from southwest Virginia plant, reduce production

[OhioChick]

Published: April 17, 2008

DUBLIN, Virginia: Volvo Trucks North America plans to lay off up to 1,100 employees from its southwest Virginia plant next month and reduce production there to one shift.

The company announced the layoffs Wednesday and Thursday.

Company spokesman Jim McNamara says the layoffs are expected to begin the week of May 12.

The 1.6-million-square-foot (150,000 sq. meter) New River plant is Volvo's largest truck factory and employs 2,900 workers.

The news comes the same day Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors Ltd. said it will stop making commercial trucks at its California plant because surging oil prices and the U.S. credit crisis have hurt demand.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/17/business/NA-FIN-US-Volvo-Layoffs.php