Cooper Standard files WARN notice for closure of New Lexington plant

New Lexington, OH — Cooper Standard Automotive has filed a notice under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act announcing plans to permanently close its manufacturing facility in New Lexington, resulting in the layoff of approximately 228 employees.

According to the WARN notice submitted to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the closure will occur in phases, with employee separations expected to begin as early as February 2026. The company anticipates that the facility will be fully shut down by July 1, 2027.

The New Lexington plant manufactures automotive components and employs workers represented by United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1686. As required under the WARN Act, Cooper Standard notified both state officials and union representatives of the planned closure and layoffs.

In the filing, Cooper Standard cited business and operational considerations as the reason for the decision, describing the move as part of a broader effort to optimize its manufacturing footprint and improve long-term efficiency. The company did not announce whether production would be transferred to other facilities.

The WARN Act requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide at least 60 days’ notice ahead of mass layoffs or plant closures. WARN filings often serve as the first formal public disclosure of such actions, particularly when companies do not issue separate press releases.

Local and state officials have not yet announced whether workforce assistance programs or retraining resources will be made available to affected employees. The closure is expected to have a significant economic impact on Perry County, where the facility has been a long-standing employer.