P.M. BRIEFING : GM to Lay Off 2,050 Workers at Corsica and Beretta Plants

General Motors Corp. said today it will lay off indefinitely 2,050 workers at two plants that build Chevrolet Corsica and Beretta cars because of weak sales.

The cuts reflect GM’s concession to slumping sales of its key U.S. compact-car line that has been battered by sales of better-equipped models made by Japanese rivals.

The world’s largest car maker has an hourly work force of 310,000.

GM said it will cut the night shift at its Linden, N.J., plant, and indefinitely lay off 1,600 employees effective Feb. 26. The Linden facility employs a total of 3,500 workers.

In addition, GM plans to reduce production at its Wilmington, Del., plant and lay off 450 workers starting Jan. 16. The Wilmington facility employs 4,100 salaried and hourly workers.

GM said last week it would indefinitely lay off about 1,040 workers at four Canadian plants, including two that build a few of its latest mid-sized cars.