GM Planning to Sell Closed Van Nuys Plant

General Motors Corp. said its assembly plant in Van Nuys, which ceased operating in August, will be put up for sale as early as January.

Until recently, GM had been precluded from selling the 101-acre plant under terms of its contract with the United Auto Workers union. But GM spokesman Peter Ternes said both sides amended the pact to allow the Van Nuys plant to be sold.

The Van Nuys facility employed about 2,600 people, and their ability to win transfers within GM improves if they are from a formally closed plant, Ternes said. Nearly 200 of the Van Nuys workers so far have transferred to other facilities, he said.

GM said some unidentified parties have expressed interest in the Van Nuys property, but no offers have yet been made. For any potential buyer, there is the question of possible environmental damage at the 45-year-old plant, and who would be liable to repair it.

“We would make sure it met environmental regulations before resale,” Ternes said. GM officials, he said, “right now are doing an environmental assessment at the plant.”