General Motors Puts Brakes on Truck Production

In yet another sign that the slowing pickup market is having a major impact on automakers, General Motors on Tuesday confirmed that it will cut the number of trucks it builds at its Pontiac, Michigan, assembly plant. The plant builds heavy-duty GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado pickups.

GM said an unspecified number of workers would be laid off at the plant. The Associated Press reported that the plant's assembly-line speed will be cut from 54.5 vehicles per hour to 45. The GM news comes on the same day that Nissan announced dismal first-quarter results that were attributed in part to a drop in the demand for its light-duty trucks, such as the Nissan Titan.

GM said production cuts were not scheduled for any of its other truck plants in North America and Mexico.