Roshel says it intends to grow the Springfield workforce, but employees face an uncertain transition.
Nearly 1,400 workers at the former Navistar truck plant in Springfield, Ohio, were laid off September 30 as International Motors ended operations ahead of a planned sale to Canadian vehicle manufacturer Roshel.
International announced the sale agreement in March. It said the plant had recently concentrated on contract manufacturing and that the agreement supporting that work would expire September 30.
Roshel plans to use the facilities for commercial, specialty and armored-vehicle production.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Roshel said it was working to preserve the existing workforce and eventually more than double employment through a phased expansion.
Some laid-off employees told AP they expected to return in six to 12 months. That expectation is not a guaranteed rehiring date for individual workers.
Employees described immediate pressures from losing paychecks while grocery and other household costs remain high. Forklift operator Marianne Donnelly said she had reduced subscriptions and other spending.
The White House defended President Trump’s economic policies, pointing to announced investments elsewhere in Ohio and arguing that tax changes and trade agreements were supporting employment.
For Springfield workers, Roshel’s expansion plans offer the possibility of future jobs, while the timing of their return remains uncertain.
