The Korean unit of General Motors said Monday it would reduce production this week by up to 10 percent because of a possible lack of parts from Japan following the devastating earthquake.

GM Korea ― formerly GM Daewoo ― said it would stop four hours a day of overtime work from Monday at its plants in the western city of Bupyeong and in the southwestern port of Gunsan.

The company said it would also suspend eight hours a day of extra work during the weekend at Gunsan. But it will maintain its current work schedule at its plant in the southern city of Changwon.

“Overall, up to 10 percent of production will be reduced,” a GM Korea spokesman told AFP.

“The move is temporary, and our company will decide whether to reduce production next week while watching the situation in Japan,” he said.

GM owns a 70.1 percent stake in GM Korea, the manufacturing base for smaller vehicles for the Detroit-based carmaker. Its market share in Korea was just around eight percent last year.

Korea’s top automaker Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors said they have not been affected by the March 11 quake and tsunami in Japan.

Hyundai and Kia together form the world’s fifth-largest carmaking group by sales. They use only about one percent of parts from Japan. 

(AFP)