GM SUSPENDS OUTPUT AT CRUZE PLANT IN OHIO

By Automotive News - General Motors suspended production on Monday afternoon at an Ohio plant that makes the Chevrolet Cruze compact car due to a supplier issue.

Production at the Lordstown, Ohio, factory was halted around 1 p.m. ET. Employees on the first and second shifts worked shortened schedules, while the third shift was suspended, GM Lordstown spokesman Tom Mock said.

Mock said skilled trade workers at the plant are due to report to work their regular hours.

GM spokesman Chris Lee declined to describe the nature of the supplier issue, saying only that the automaker was looking to restart production as swiftly as possible.

So far this year, the Cruze is the second best-selling small car in the U.S. market, behind the Toyota Corolla/Matrix, and the 10th best-selling vehicle overall as consumers seek more fuel efficient options.

GM Chief Executive Dan Akerson said this month that he hoped the Cruze, which gets up to 42 miles per gallon, would become the top-selling car by the end of 2011.

The Cruze has outsold Honda Motor Co's Civic, a longtime leader in the small car segment, and Ford Motor Co's Focus.

The Ohio plant was idled for a week last month to adjust inventories of the Cruze.