International Motors has announced the planned termination of 1,341 employees across two manufacturing sites in Springfield, Ohio, following the sale of those operations to Roshel, a Canada-based firm specializing in defense and commercial vehicle production. According to FreightWaves, the Lisle, Illinois-based manufacturer entered into an asset purchase agreement for its Springfield Assembly Plant (SAP) and Truck Specialty Center (TSC), with the transaction expected to close on Oct. 2.
According to a WARN notice filed with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the termination of the workforce is scheduled to coincide with the closing date of the sale. The job losses impact 1,314 personnel at the Springfield Assembly Plant and 27 staff members at the Truck Specialty Center. Union representation remains a factor, with approximately 1,137 assembly plant workers and 21 specialty center employees affiliated with United Auto Workers Locals 402 and 658.
Workforce Impact and Asset Details
| Facility | Employee Count | UAW Represented |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield Assembly Plant (SAP) | 1,314 | 1,137 |
| Truck Specialty Center (TSC) | 27 | 21 |
| Total | 1,341 | 1,158 |
International Motors, which maintains a global workforce of approximately 14,500 people, stated that the Springfield location’s primary utility in recent years had shifted toward contract manufacturing for a major automotive partner. That specific contract was set to expire on Sept. 30, 2026, leading company leadership to pursue a divestiture of the 500-acre campus. The site features over 2 million square feet of space, including a full assembly line and painting infrastructure.
Why It Matters
This divestiture reflects a broader transition in the North American heavy-truck sector where legacy manufacturers are shedding legacy assets to refine their operational footprint. By selling to a defense-focused manufacturer like Roshel, International Motors avoids the overhead of managing a massive, underutilized campus that relied on short-term contract manufacturing. For the defense sector, the acquisition provides an immediate, turn-key facility capable of large-scale vehicle production, indicating a shift toward domesticating the supply chain for specialty and armored platforms to mitigate geopolitical risks associated with international component sourcing.
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