General Motors is set to close five plants in the U.S. and Canada,... and lay off 15-percent of its salaried workers in bid to slash costs.<br />The automaker also plans to end production of several models to reflect the shift in consumer sentiment for certain types of cars.<br />Lee Seung-jae reports. <br />In a shattering announcement Monday,... General Motors announced a major restructuring of its global business that will see it cease production at five facilities in North America.<br />Plants will be shut Detroit, Ohio, Maryland, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada.<br />Explaining its decision,... GM said the plants produced sedans that have seen a slump in sales, adding it will no longer produce the Chevrolet Volt, Impala and four other models.<br />Two of the plants made engines and parts for those models.<br />GM also said it would close three plants outside North America by the end of next year,... one of those being its Gunsan plant in South Korea.<br />GM's decision will mean lay-offs for up to eight-thousand salaried workers, and six-thousand hourly workers.<br />The affected workers will either be made redundant or reassigned to other plants. <br />A quarter of the company's executives are among those affected.<br />GM's union has vowed to fight,... but observers say the plants will likely be closed for good.<br />President Trump didn't hide his displeasure over GM's decision,... saying the automaker's CEO Mary Barra must open new plants in the future.<br /><br />"Well, we don't like it. I believe they will be opening up something else. And, I was very tough. I spoke with her (GM CEO Mary Barra) when I heard they were closing. And I said, 'you know, this country has done a lot for General Motors; you better get back in there soon -- that's Ohio -- and you better get back in there soon." <br /><br />GM's massive restructuring plan comes as it's set to reinvest money into new technology. <br />The company's new motto "Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, Zero Congestions" signals it's shifting to self-driving, electric vehicles. <br />But watchers says the restructuring is also about making cars that consumers want now,... with more and more drivers favoring SUVs and hatchbacks over sedans.<br />Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News. <br />
