ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AFP)--U.S. auto makers General Motors Corp. (GM) and Ford Motor Co. (F) have decided to suspend production in Russia for respective periods of two months and eight days in the face of sliding demand, company officials said.

"GM has decided to suspend production from July 1 to August 30," company spokesman Sergei Lepnukhov told AFP. "The suspension is in response to the decline in the automobile market."

A Ford spokeswoman, Eketerina Kulinenko, said Ford production would be halted from July 1 to July 9.

Sales of passenger and light utility vehicles plummeted in Russia by 58% in May compared with the same month last year and 47% in the first five months of 2009, according to the Association of European Business.

Prior to the current global economic downturn, Russia was seen as the most promising auto market in Europe.