GM to Cut Vehicle Production 12 Percent

General Motors Corp. said Friday it would cut North American vehicle production by about 12 percent in the fourth quarter.

The world’s largest automaker said it expected to produce 1.13 million cars, trucks and SUVs between October and December, down about 150,000 vehicles from the same period in 2005.

The news came in the same monthly sales report that said GM’s U.S. auto sales rose 3.9 percent in August.

Ford Motor Co. announced in August it would cut fourth-quarter production by 168,000 vehicles, or 21 percent, to bring supply back in line with growing inventories.

DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group said it would cut production in the fourth quarter by an unspecified amount. The company cut production in the quarter ending Sept. 30 by 10 percent.

GM shares rose 88 cents, or 3 percent, to $30.06 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.