Ford Vehicle

Ford Germany cuts back Ford Motor Co. said Monday it would curb engine production at a German plant for five weeks and put 820 employees on part-time schedules because of slow demand in the United States. The measures at the Cologne plant are to take effect Nov. 3 and involve production of 4-liter V6 engines for export to the United States, said Bernd Meier, a Ford spokesman.

The Cologne plant employs a total of 17,300 people, but the company said production there of the Fiesta and Fusion models would not be affected. In 2007, the plant built more than 264,000 V6 engines for export to the United States for the Ford Explorer, Ranger and Mustang. The engine is also delivered to Land Rover. Chrysler part not needed General Motors Corp., the largest U.S. automaker, would have no need for an automatic transmission developed for Chrysler LLC if the two merged, analysts say.

Possible takeover talks may partly explain why Chrysler ended its contract with German transmission maker Getrag Group, said David Petrovski, a powertrain analyst with CSM Worldwide Inc. in Northville. GM recently has invested in an advanced, fuel-saving, six-speed transmission it could use in Chrysler’s cars, according to Petrovski. “If GM were to purchase” Chrysler, “what would GM do with it?” Petrovski said of the Chrysler system.

Chrysler owner Cerberus Capital Management LP and Detroit-based GM are in talks about a merger or an alliance, people with knowledge of the plan have said. Nissan trims production Nissan Motor Co., Japan’s third-largest automaker, said it’s eliminating three days of scheduled car production at plants in Tennessee and Mississippi because of slowing U.S. auto demand. The Smyrna, Tenn., factory is curtailing output of sedan, coupe and hybrid versions of the Altima and the Maxima sport sedans on Oct.