General Motors to close Trailblazer/Envoy plant

1,100 GM factory workers in Moraine, Ohio will be out of a job on December 23 as plans are announced to close the Moraine Assembly plant early, instead of the original 2010 plan (Happy Holidays to the employees.) The accelerated shutdown plans are part of company wide cost-cutting move as customers move away from sport utility vehicles to smaller vehicles amid high gas prices.

The plant builds the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7X. This will mark the end of all four models. With Isuzu pulling out of the U.S. market in January, the death of the Ascender is no surprise. As for Saab’s 9-7X, it is widely expected to be replaced by the superior 2010 9-4X.

General Motors turned down a $56 million tax credit and grant package from the Ohio Department of Development to keep the plant open.