Aug. 16--American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. began laying off salaried employees at its U.S. plants and offices Friday in a move that the company said would eliminate fewer than 100 jobs.

The job cuts are part of American Axle's effort to reduce its salaried workforce by about 350 jobs through involuntary cuts, early retirement packages and attrition, according to company spokeswoman Renee Rogers.

Rogers declined to say how many employees would be cut but said it is fewer than 100. Most employees were to be informed Friday, Rogers said.

American Axle, an automotive supplier based in Detroit, is reeling from the impact of a three-month labor strike earlier this year and an industrywide slump in truck and SUV sales in the United States.

In July, American Axle said it lost $644.3 million or $12.49 per share during its second quarter, compared with a profit of $34.6 million or 66 cents per share during the same period last year.

The company is also cutting its hourly workforce. About 2,000 hourly workers have accepted retirement or buyout offers that were part of the recent labor agreement.

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