As GM works to focus on smaller vehicles, production of four truck and SUV plants in North America are being placed on hold.

It seems General Motors caught the fuel price fever. The motor company announced plans to close four truck and SUV plants in North America. The closings are a response to high oil prices and the slumping sales of pickups and SUV’s.

CEO Rick Wagoner says the plants will be idled in Oshawa, Ontario: Moraine, Ohio; Janesville, Wisconsin; and Toluca, Mexico. He also said GM is currently focusing on the production of smaller vehicles.

The GM board has approved production of a new small Chevrolet car at a plant in Lordstown, Ohio, in 2010, and also production of the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle in Detroit.

The moves are intended to save GM a billion dollars a year, starting in 2010.