BREWER (AP) – Forty-five workers at a Maine auto parts plant are being furloughed for three to four weeks because of the downturn in the car manufacturing industry.

The temporary layoffs at the ZF Lemforder plant in Brewer were precipitated by shutdowns by General Motors and Mercedes, said Bryan Johnson, spokesman for ZF Group in Northville, Mich. With no cars being manufactured, there is no demand for the steering components made at the Brewer facility, he said.

Johnson said Friday’s announcement that President Bush would give U.S. automakers $17.4 billion in emergency rescue loans is good news for auto parts manufacturers, but there will be a lag time in startup.