GM ups output at 2 plants, more likely

General Motors Co [GM.UL] is stepping up production at car plants in Michigan and Ohio, Bloomberg said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The move is part of a broader increase that may be announced this week, the news agency cited the people as saying. GM has added Friday shifts at its car plants in Orion Township, Michigan, where it assembles the Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 sedans, and at Lordstown, Ohio, where GM makes the Pontiac G5 and Chevrolet Cobalt compact cars, the news agency quoted GM spokesman Chris Lee as saying.

Those plants had been running four 10-hour days each week. The automaker will announce more production plans mid-week, the news agency cited Lee as saying.(F.N)

Auto sales received a big boost from the government's cash for clunkers program, which provides incentives to buy new cars. The program's initial $1 billion funding was exhausted in its first week, and it has since been expanded to $3 billion.

GM did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters seeking comment. (Reporting by S. John Tilak in Bangalore; Editing by Hans Peters)