Lisle, Illinois-based International Motors, a manufacturer of commercial vehicles and engines, has announced a major reduction in force at its Springfield, Ohio Assembly Plant and Truck Specialty Center due to the September 30, 2026, expiration of a contract manufacturing agreement with General Motors.
The assets will be sold to Brampton, Ontario, Canada-based Roshel, a defense contractor and manufacturer specializing in the design and fabrication of smart armored vehicles. The plant will become Roshel's U.S. manufacturing hub.
The reduction will impact 1,341 employees, with the simultaneous end of operations and employment on October 2, 2026.
According to a company statement, “With the end of our contract manufacturing agreement, we have been working diligently to find a suitable path for the Springfield Assembly Plant. We have been focused on finding a buyer that values the capabilities of this historic facility and the community. We believe this path forward positions the plant for long-term success, while utilizing the manufacturing expertise developed in Springfield over many decades.”
Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?