Volvo Trucks North America will lay off up to 650 people next month at its Dublin plant in southwest Virginia.

The layoffs are the second round since November 2006, when about one-third of the plant's 3,170-person work force was let go. Many of those workers were rehired, and Volvo spokesman Jim McNamara says the plant now has 2,900 on the payroll.

He says the 2008 layoffs, which will occur at the end of January, are permanent.

McNamara said the new job cuts reflect "current market demand."

The New River Plant is the largest Volvo truck manufacturing center in the world. It manufactures 148 vehicles daily.

Workers were informed of the layoffs on November 20.