A KINGSPORT AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING PLANT IS CLOSING ITS DOORS JUST BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SEASON, LEAVING NEARLY 40 WORKERS WITHOUT JOBS. OFFICIALS WITH MAGNETI MARELLI NORTH ARMERICA INCORPORATED, FORMERLY KNOWN AS COFAP, CLAIMS THE CLOSURE IS THE RESULT OF ITS 2008 BUDGET SHORTFALLS AND RELATED ISSUES. THE COMPANY HAD MANUFACTURED SHOCK ABSORBERS AT THE KINGSPORT FACILITY UNTIL IT MOVED THE OPERATIONS BACK TO BRAZIL LAST YEAR. THEY RETAINED THEIR SHIPPING AND RECEIVING OPERATION AS WELL AS SOME INSPECTION LINES. NOW THOSE OPERATIONS ARE MOVING BACK TO BRAZIL AS WELL. THE COMPANY EXPECTS THE TRANSITION TO START THIS WEEK AND CONCLUDE BY THE END OF THE MONTH OR EARLY NEXT YEAR.