• Workers at the site will be eligible for benefits while production is halted.
  • GM says it’s performing maintenance and project work during the closure.
  • The carmaker has also halted work at the Corvette’s Bowling Green plant.

GM has confirmed that its Flint Assembly workers will remain on temporary layoff until January 26, extending a production pause that began just before the holidays on December 24. Though the plant floor remains quiet, unionized employees will continue to receive benefits during the downtime.

The facility, located in Flint, Michigan, is responsible for building the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD. Word of the shutdown first came in mid-December, when GM announced a four-and-a-half-week pause for what it described as “planned maintenance and project work.”

Read: Why GM Is Quietly Shutting Multiple Plants For Over A Month

A notice shared to Facebook by UAW Local 598, which represents workers and retirees at the Flint Assembly site, confirms that those who are hourly, full-time, or part-time workers at the plant who were laid off over the holiday period will be eligible for benefits. This letter confirms that GM will file an application for benefits on behalf of workers.

GM Extends Production Shutdown, Leaving Thousands Temporarily Out Of Work

What exactly the “maintenance and project work” involves hasn’t been made public. However, there are reports that it could be linked to facility upgrades or future powertrain or product changes. One possibility is that GM is preparing for the introduction of the Gen 6 small block V8, expected to launch for the 2027 model year.

Read: GM Is Betting $900M On A New Gen 6 V8 Engine

The site employs approximately 5,000 UAW workers, a large enough workforce for the temporary layoffs to impact the local economy, including shops, restaurants, and small businesses.

The Flint facility isn’t the only GM plant to face an extended holiday shutdown. Over in Kentucky, the Bowling Green plant, where Corvettes are built, has been idle since December 15. It’s not expected to resume operations until January 12.

GM hasn’t offered a reason for that particular closure either, though the downtime may help tamp down excess inventory at Chevrolet dealerships.