DETROIT (AP) - Japan's Nissan Motor Corp. is deferring development of the rotary engine for its cars, a Detroit newspaper says.

The Detroit News quotes the Tokyo Press Center as saying Nissan, which makes the Datsun "reportedly has decided to give up its plan to start production of a rotary-engine vehicle scheduled for this autumn." The center, which covers the Japanese automotive industry, said Nissan planned on building 3,000 rotary-powered cars a month, but is now putting off its plans because of fuel economy problems.

Nissan's apparent withdrawal from rotary production leaves Toyo Kogyo, the Japanese firm which makes the rotary powered Mazda, and General Motors as the only major auto companies remaining in the rotary engine
field. Ford Motor Co. announced this winter it was abandoning plans for a rotary engine.

Toyo Kogyo has been selling Mazdas in the United States since 1970, GM is planning to offer the engine as an option in its subcompacts early next year. The Press Center said Toyo Kogyo was "shocked" by Nissan's decision to abandon the rotary engine.

General Motors is spending $50 million in royalty payments and millions more for development of the engine. The auto giant originally planned to introduce the new power-plant in a sporty subcompact this fall, hut delayed the program to improve the engine's fuel economy. GM said last week it is incorporating new technology into the rotary system and is now confident the engine will obtain fuel economy equal to or better than a comparable piston engine of the same performance and size.

American Motors plans to purchase rotary engines from GM to put in its new sporty subcompact Pacer, which will be introduced early next year.