GM to close five US plants temporarily in January

NEW YORK: General Motors plans to temporarily shut five US manufacturing plants in January in response to lower demand, a spokeswoman said Monday.

The biggest US automaker will shutter the plants for one to three weeks at the start of the year.

Automakers have seen inventories of sedans swell even as demand for trucks and sport utility vehicles has stayed robust.

"GM adjusts its manufacturing plants' production schedules to meet market demand as part of the normal course of business," the GM spokeswoman said.

A total of 14,000 workers will be affected by the move, she added.

Two of the plants are in Michigan, while there is one plant each in Kentucky, Kansas and Ohio.