Daimler Trucks sees 1,300 layoffs at 3 NC plants

[February 01, 2013]  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Daimler Trucks North America is warning 1,300 jobs could be lost at three North Carolina factories, reversing course a year after announcing plans to rehire more than a thousand workers there.

The company said Thursday the layoffs could hit in April if other efforts fail to address lower demand.

Portland, Ore.-based Daimler Trucks said it could cut 715 jobs at a factory in Cleveland, N.C., that builds Freightliner long-distance trucks, 400 at a Mount Holly plant that builds smaller Freightliner delivery trucks, and 80 at a Gastonia parts plant.

The company's Cleveland plant last year celebrated the expected rehiring of about 1,100 workers.

Earlier this week the company warned thousands of workers that potentially large layoffs could be coming at manufacturing plants in North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon and Mexico.

[Associated Press; By EMERY P. DALESIO]

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