General Motors factory in Ecuador to close its doors for good By Reuters

QUITO (Reuters) – General Motors’ (NYSE: ) plant in Ecuador will halt production on Friday amid pressure from local competitors, but will still sell vehicles in the Andean country.

The maker of Cadillac and Chevrolet announced in April that it would close its manufacturing operations in neighboring Ecuador and Colombia.

General Motors’ OBB plant in Quito accounts for 51% of Ecuador’s car production.

The factory’s 320 workers fear for their livelihoods. Unemployment in Ecuador in the first quarter of the year was 4.1%, according to official figures.

“I have mixed feelings – I’m welding my last truck for General Motors in Ecuador,” said welding team leader Antonio Oramas, who joined the plant in 2004. “It’s going to affect us a lot. Not all of us will have the same opportunity for a new place of work.”