About 500 to 515 workers face an impending layoff as Faurecia, one of the world’s largest international automotive parts manufacturers, announced a plan to slash over 50% of its workforce in the company’s manufacturing plant in Dexter, Missouri. The truck and car parts maker currently employs around 1,100 staff and the slated job cut is expected to be the biggest layoffs in the history of the plant. The job cuts will begin in March up until September. However, Faurecia’s human resources manager declined to give out further details on the layoffs.

Louie Seay, Chairman of the local UAW union, said that he learned about the layoffs through the plant workers who were directly informed on Wednesday. He added that he was relieved to know that the plant will not totally close down its operations. “I’m really glad it ain’t a plant closure. A lot of people thought that this morning. ‘Cause when they called them all together this morning, they called the whole plant, shut all the production down, and clean the whole big area out. I’ve never known them to do that with the plant.”

Seay noted that the job cuts will impact all plant workers at every level. “Well I’m sure it will affect every classification. We’ve got tow motors in there, we’ve got dispatchers, and we’ve got set up. And I’m sure every one of them is going to be affected by the layoffs. It always does.” He noted that Faurecia will begin to discontinue its truck assembly operations and those remaining workers will be assigned to just focus on making car parts.

Dexter Chamber of Commerce Director, Janet Coleman, confirmed that Faurecia informed her office about the slated massive layoffs. However, she also declined to elaborate on the details.