JANESVILLE, Wis. -- General Motors officials announced on Wednesday that the company is re-tooling work on production lines at its Janesville plant beginning next year.

GM said it will cut production in Janesville by 15 percent in response to market demand. Workers were also told that there could be an employee buyout program early next year, WISC-TV reported.

The restructuring is GM's answer to reduced demand for automobiles, especially sport utility vehicles.

The so-called re-rate at the Janesville plant indicates GM's longer-term expectation that higher gas prices will reduce demand for full-size SUVs.