(July 17, 2010) General Motors Friday idled production at three more U.S. assembly plants, bringing to six the number of plant production stoppages this week caused by a shortage of parts from Mexico, Automotive News reported.

The latest shutdowns began with first shift Friday at the Fairfax plant near Kansas City, Kan., which builds the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick LaCrosse sedan, according to a bulletin on the Web site of UAW Local 31, which represents hourly workers at the Fairfax plant. Production is expected to resume at 9:30 p.m. central on Sunday.

GM has also canceled work Friday at Detroit-Hamtramck and Wentzville (Mo.), GM spokesman Chris Lee said. The plants only had one shift today and none scheduled this weekend. Production is expected to resume at the normal time on Monday.

Detroit automakers have been forced to idle several North American assembly plants this week because of a disruption of components shipped from Mexico following Hurricane Alex.