Trump says General Motors should add new facility in Ohio following cuts

U.S. President Donald Trump has asked General Motors to add a new product to replace a plant located in Ohio that the company stated it prepared to close next year due to lagging small-car demand.

The largest U.S. automaker stated it would slash thousands from its North American workforce, slash production and remove some slow-selling car models. GM also strategies to close an assembly plant and a transmission plant located in Ohio, along with an assembly plant in Canada.

Trump informed reporters he was not pleased with GM’s decision to idle a plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

“I have no doubt that in the not too distant future, they’ll put something else. They better put something else in,” Trump stated.

GM did not immediately discussed Trump’s comments, but the company noted it has other centers in Ohio including a transmission plant in Toledo and metal center in Parma.

Ohio lawmakers prompted GM to reconsider. Republican Senator Rob Portman informed GM CEO Mary Barra on Monday that the company should bring a new product to the plant and he also prompted the automaker “to at least reallocate some of the production and employees to the Toledo GM plant”.