DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is laying off nearly 1,000 workers worldwide as it cuts costs as it tries to compete in the crowded global auto market.

Mostly white-collar workers were notified of the decisions early Friday. The company confirmed the layoffs in a statement but provided few details.

“We need to optimize for speed and perfection,” the statement said. “This includes working efficiently, having the right team structure and focusing on our top priorities.”

GM and other automakers are navigating an uncertain transition to electric vehicles, both in the U.S. and around the world, and are trying to figure out where to invest capital and how quickly the transition will happen.

The company has had to develop and update gas-powered models while investing in EV battery and assembly facilities, as well as minerals and other parts for the next generation of electric vehicles.

Through September, new EV sales in the U.S. rose 7.2% to nearly 936,000. motorintelligence.com. This is slower growth than the 47% increase in 2023. But this year, EV sales are expected to surpass last year’s record of 1.19 million, and the EV share of new vehicle sales has increased from 7.6% last year to 7.9% this year.

GM has about 150,000 employees worldwide, with the largest group at its technical center in the Detroit suburb of Warren, Michigan. The company had 76,000 white-collar employees worldwide at the end of last year.

Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson said last month that GM is on track to meet its goal of reducing fixed costs by $2 billion by the end of this year.

Last April, nearly 5,000 GM white-collar workers at General Motors acquisition offers of the companyThe automaker said at the time that this was enough to avoid layoffs.

The company made a buyout offer to white-collar employees with at least five years of service and global managers who have been with the company for at least two years.

At the time, GM stated that it could not completely rule out future layoffs and stated that “involuntary separations are not an issue that should be considered at this time.”

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