Alexander Alusheff

Lansing State Journal

LANSING - General Motors laid off fewer people than it had originally expected at the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant last week.

The plant shut down on Friday for two weeks due to low consumer demand for cars as trucks and SUVs dominate the market.

When people return to work on Jan. 30, the third shift will no longer be in operation at the plant, located at 920 Townsend St., which produces the Cadillac ATS and CTS as well as the Chevrolet Camaro.

Local GM spokeswoman Erin Davis did not release the exact number of employees who were laid off on Friday, but said it was less than the 839 positions the company estimated in November. That number was to include 29 salaried workers and 810 hourly workers, 300 of whom were temporary.

The plant's employment numbers haven't been updated either. Before the layoffs, it employed roughly 2,700 people.

Davis added that workers with the most seniority kept their jobs and were moved to Lansing Delta Township Assembly plant.

RELATED:Lansing will build new generation Chevy Traverse

"The layoff wasn't as nearly as much as we first thought," said Mike Green, president of UAW Local 652, who didn't have exact numbers either.

GM hired 500 people for a third shift at the plant last January to meet growing demand for the Camaro. The third shift went online in April, making it the first time the plant was fully utilized in its 17-year history.

However, Camaro sales declined by 6% in 2016. Cadillac ATS sales also dropped 20% while CTS sales decreased by 18% in 2016.

When GM announced the layoffs, it also announced that it was going to invest $211 million in the plant to expand the body shop and add new equipment for future product.

"It will keep the plant more viable for future product," Green said. "The quality we put in our cars is why GM keeps investing in Lansing."

RELATED: Analysts: Lansing likely to get next-gen Enclave, Cadillac crossover

Alexander Alusheff is a reporter at the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.