After Strike's End, GM Hurries to Distribute Parts

Anxious car dealers and impatient customers are caught in the aftermath of the 40-day UAW strike against General Motors that ended last week.
Oct. 30, 2019

Oct. 30, 2019—In the aftermath of the UAW strike against General Motors, the OEM is adding shifts and hiring people to get parts to dealers, reported The Detroit Free Press.

It sent out a notice late Friday to its dealers that said: "One of our top priorities is to restore the health of our parts distribution network."

David Whiston, equity strategist at Morningstar Research Services, estimates GM took a $77 million-a-day hit to its North America profits. At that rate, the company would have been on pace to lose about $3 billion over the course of the strike. 

GM has the vehicle parts its dealers need in its warehouses, but it could not ship them during the strike because warehouse workers are union members. 

The shortage of parts also forced GM to halt some production at its plants in Canada and Mexico. Most notably, GM had to temporarily stop building its highly profitable 2020 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups in Mexico and the new 2020 Chevrolet Blazer SUV in Mexico due to a parts shortage.

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Latest in News

AASP/NJ
Northeast 2025 Education
Classes are filling up for the educational component of AASP/NJ’s NORTHEAST 2025 Automotive Services Show set for March 14-16 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus,...
March 11, 2025
pexelsgustavofring6720502
ADAS Network offers a dynamic space where professionals can access “just-in-time” information and connect with a global community of experts.
March 10, 2025
NABC
NABC 02
The presentation took place at the Joe Hudson collision center in Birmingham, Alabama.
March 10, 2025