Toyota to halt production for 11 days

Car giant Toyota is to suspend production at all of its Japanese plants for a total of 11 days in February and March because of faltering global demand.

Japan’s top car maker announced last year it would halt production at its 12 domestic plants for three days in January, but said with the global economic downturn, more shutdowns were necessary. “We are coping with a slump in global sales,” said Toyota spokesman Hideaki Homma.

Hammered by a plunge in global car sales, Toyota announced last month it would take its first operating loss in 70 years totalling around €1.24bn for the fiscal year ending March 2009.