News / Chip shortages force desperate carmakers to put the brakes on production

General Motors (GM) announced on Friday it would shut down production at most of its plants in North America for a week or two, starting today.

September is going to be a dismal month for large auto manufacturers hamstrung by a shortage of semiconductors, and GM is idling four factories in the US, three in Mexico and one in Canada.

Only a small number of its plants remain operational, and those produce some of the company’s most profitable SUVs, pick-up trucks and ...