International Motors is preparing to exit two manufacturing operations in Springfield, Ohio, resulting in the elimination of 1,341 jobs as the facilities transition to new ownership. The truck manufacturer has reached an agreement to sell the operating assets of its Springfield Assembly Plant and Truck Specialty Center to Canadian commercial and defense vehicle manufacturer Roshel. The transaction is expected to close on October 2, 2026, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice filed with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. International said virtually all employees working at the two Springfield facilities will be terminated when the transaction is finalized, except for certain employees who are on approved leaves of absence. The Springfield Assembly Plant accounts for most of the affected workforce, with approximately 1,314 employees expected to lose their jobs. Another 27 positions will be eliminated at the Truck Specialty Center. A large percentage of those affected are union workers. Approximately 1,137 employees at the assembly plant and 21 workers at the specialty center are represented by the United Auto Workers through Locals 402 and 658. International Motors, headquartered in Lisle, Illinois, employs approximately 14,500 people worldwide. The company also maintains a significant distribution network, including roughly 1,000 dealer locations throughout the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico. Springfield has a long history with International truck manufacturing. The plant opened in 1966 and currently produces medium-duty trucks and General Motors van chassis. In more recent years, however, the location has primarily operated as a contract manufacturing facility under an agreement with a major automotive manufacturer. That manufacturing agreement is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026, creating uncertainty about the facility’s future. International said it had been working to identify an appropriate path forward for the Springfield operation as the end of the contract approached. Selling the facilities provides an opportunity for the manufacturing complex to remain active under new ownership. Roshel plans to transform the Springfield properties into a U.S.-based manufacturing hub for commercial, specialty, and armored vehicles. The Canadian company intends to use the site’s existing production capabilities to manufacture vehicles using chassis supplied by multiple original equipment manufacturers. The Springfield manufacturing campus provides Roshel with substantial production capacity. The complex spans more than 2 million square feet across approximately 500 acres and includes a complete vehicle assembly line and paint facility. These existing assets could allow Roshel to expand U.S. manufacturing without… [TheTopNews] Read More.
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