Toyota considers suspending car production lines

Toyota is considering suspending one of the two car production lines at its Burnaston factory in Derbyshire, the company said today.

The news came following the announcement that the Japanese giant is closing one of its production lines in Japan for more than a year in the face of plunging worldwide motor sales. The move, which will affect the Takaoka plant in Aichi from next spring, could reduce overall capacity by as much as one million vehicles.

In Burnaston, a reduction in capacity has been under consideration since July, also in response to weak demand. But the company has not yet come to a decision. The plant, which employs more than 3,500 people have been on reduced working hours since April.