General Motors GM-1.28%decrease; red down pointing triangle said it expects to take more than $5 billion in noncash charges in the fourth quarter because of weakness in its China business that will force the automaker to close plants and offer fewer models.

GM said it would write down the value of its joint venture with China's SAIC Motors by as much as $2.9 billion and incur restructuring charges.

The poor performance of General Motors' Chinese joint ventures is forcing the company to write down assets and take a restructuring charge.