UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549-1004
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) November 15, 2004
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
STATE OF DELAWARE 1-143 38-0572515
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(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization) File Number) Identification No.)
300 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48265-3000
Michigan (Zip Code)
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(Address of Principal Executive
Offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (313) 556-5000
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM 2.05 Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities
With respect to Form 8-K, Item 2.05, Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal
Activities:
(a) On November 15, 2004, Management of General Motors Corporation's
North American and Manufacturing Operations finalized the plans for
the closing of the Corporation's assembly plant in Baltimore,
Maryland, in 2005 as described in the following press release.
(b) At this time General Motors (GM) is unable to estimate the total
amount or range of amounts expected to be incurred in connection
with each major type of cost associated with this course of action.
(c) At this time GM is unable to estimate the total amount or range of
amounts expected to be incurred in connection with this act.
(d) At this time GM is unable to estimate the total amount or range of
amounts of the charge that will result in future cash expenditures.
On November 16, 2004, GM issued the following press release:
Chevy Astro And GMC Safari To Be Discontinued In 2005
GM's Baltimore, Maryland Assembly Plant To Close
GM Maintains Significant Presence In Baltimore Area Through White Marsh
Transmission Plant
PONTIAC, Mich. - General Motors today announced that its Chevy Astro and
GMC Safari will be discontinued in 2005. As a consequence, the company's
Baltimore, Md. assembly plant, which exclusively builds the Chevy Astro and GMC
Safari, will also close in 2005. The company also reaffirmed that it will
maintain a significant presence in the greater Baltimore area through its
state-of-the-art transmission plant in White Marsh, Md.
With the Astro and Safari reaching the end of their lifecycles, GM
management initiated several production changes over the last several years to
better align production at the plant with market demand for the Astro and
Safari. These decisions included eliminating the plant's second shift of
production in the summer of 2000 and slowing production output on several
occasions.
The Chevy Astro and GMC Safari were introduced in the 1985 model year.
During the first 10 months of this year, production at Baltimore amounted to
approximately 41,000 vehicles.
"Long-term market softening and the products' lifecycle have driven GM to
make this difficult yet necessary decision," said Joe Spielman, GM vice
president and general manager of Vehicle Manufacturing. "GM can no longer
justify building these two products at volumes that are significantly below the
plant's capacity."
"The men and women of Baltimore Assembly are proud, hard working people who
have done a great job of building the Chevy Astro and GMC Safari over the
years," Spielman added. "Everyone at Baltimore Assembly should take great pride
in their many accomplishments and years of dedication to these products."
GM currently employs approximately 1,000 hourly and 100 salaried employees
at the Baltimore plant. The UAW/GM National Agreement provides a comprehensive
plan and provisions for the GM employees affected by the decision. UAW Local 239
represents the plant's hourly workforce. In addition, management will work with
affected salaried employees to pursue opportunities at other GM locations.
The Baltimore Assembly plant sits on 182 acres and consists of
approximately 3.2 million square feet. It opened in 1935 and originally produced
a variety of Chevrolet cars and trucks. In 1984, the facility was converted for
production of the Astro and Safari.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest vehicle manufacturer,
employs about 325,000 people globally. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global
automotive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32
countries and its vehicles are sold in 192 countries. In 2003, GM sold nearly
8.6 million cars and trucks, about 15 percent of the global vehicle market. GM's
global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More
information on GM and its products can be found on the company's corporate
website at www.gm.com.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
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(Registrant)
Date: November 17, 2004 By: /s/PETER R. BIBLE
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(Peter R. Bible,
Chief Accounting Officer)