DETROIT, Oct 29 (Reuters) - General Motors ( GM ) said

on Wednesday it will cut U.S. electric vehicle and battery

production and 1,200 factory jobs at its EV plant in Detroit, as

the automaker responds to a significant slowdown in demand for

its battery cars.

The Detroit automaker said it will halt battery cell

production at its two U.S. joint-venture battery plants - in

Tennessee and Ohio - in January for about six months. It added

it will temporarily lay off about 1,550 workers at the

factories.

In addition, at the Ohio plant, GM said it will lay off 550

workers indefinitely. GM operates the Ohio plant jointly with

South Korea's LG Energy Solution.

GM said it will cut production at its Detroit EV plant to

just one shift starting in January, compared with the two shifts

at present. This will cut output by about 50%, it said. The

plant produces three large electric pickup trucks, including the

Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, as well as the EV Escalade

IQ and Hummer SUV.

GM said the cuts were "in response to slower near-term EV

adoption and an evolving regulatory environment."

GM has been paring its outlook for EV sales after the Trump

administration slashed a key federal incentive, which further

dampened already-slowing demand.

A $7,500 tax credit on battery-powered models expired at the

end of September, and the U.S. government has further loosened

vehicle-emissions regulations, which has weighed on EV sales.

The Detroit automaker took a $1.6 billion charge earlier this

month related to changes in its EV strategy.

GM shares were down 0.3% at $69.65 at midday on Wednesday.

The shares have gained more than 35% so far this year.