Oct. 11--In an odd turn of events, the General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington will begin working overtime next month as GM struggles with the severe financial crisis that's gripping American businesses.

The Detroit automaker is expected to announce further production cuts and closures next week to contend with sharply decreasing industry sales and a collapse in the company's stock price.

Tony Sapienza, a spokesman for GM production, said Friday that the Arlington overtime is not related to any future announcements on cuts and closures.

The plant builds full-size SUVs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, a segment that has been in steep decline all year. But GM has offered large incentives on big pickups and SUVs, and sales have increased some as gas prices have eased.

"It is purely market-driven and could be related to a drop in supply because of our employee discount sales event," Mr. Sapienza said of the overtime decision.

In addition, full-size SUVs are some of GM's more profitable vehicles at a time when the company is reportedly burning through $1 billion a month in cash.

Wendi Sabo, a spokeswoman for the Arlington plant, said the factory's 2,500 workers will begin working overtime Nov. 3 and continue through the end of the year.

The plant's two shifts will each work one hour of overtime a day Monday through Thursday and a half-hour on Friday. They will also work two Saturdays in November and one in December.

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