Associated Press (Detroit) - General Motors Co. is halting some production at its Buffalo engine plant because of a slowdown in parts from Japan.
GM is also temporarily laying off 59 of the 623 workers at the Tonawanda Engine Plant. The workers make engines for a GM pickup factory in Shreveport, Louisiana, that is closed this week because of a shortage of parts from Japan. GM has also laid off 800 workers in Shreveport.
GM doesn't know when production will resume in Buffalo, New York. Workers will get most of their pay while they're on layoff.
So far, GM is the only U.S.-based automaker to be affected by parts shortages. Ford and Chrysler say they haven't slowed production yet but are monitoring the situation.
