Navistar”s recent failure to win a $1.06 billion Pentagon contract, which went to Oshkosh Corp., to build blast-resistant vehicles brings layoffs to the West Point Navistar plant.
Navistar Manager of Communications Elissa Koc Thursday reported “275 people (at the West Point facility) will receive notice” of termination of employment and “about 200 will remain at the plant to work on existing product.”
“West Point operates on a project to project basis,” Koc said. “The company will continue to look for new vehicle programs to bring additional business into West Point.”
The Pentagon looked for a defense company to build 2,244 mine-resistant, ambush protected vehicles — or MRAPs — which are lighter, more agile and more maneuverable than previous models, to be used in Afghanistan, the Associated Press earlier reported.
In April, Navistar announced it had reached an agreement with British defense authorities to build 262 “Husky” tactical support vehicles at the West Point plant, with delivery to be later this year.
Navistar”s West Point facility began operations in early 2006.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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