Toyota plans to suspend production at all of its Japanese plants for 11 days between February and March in response to a slump in sales.
The move underlines the rapidly deteriorating fortunes of Japan's car giants, which have racked up bumper profits in recent years and invested heavily to expand their production facilities overseas.
'We will suspend the operation of 12 Toyota factories in Japan for 11 more days,' a Toyota spokesman said. Toyota is already idling its domestic plants for three days in January to cope with rapidly worsening demand.
The Japanese giant last month forecast its first annual operating loss, blaming 'an unprecedented crisis' in the global car industry. Toyota has already moved to reduce production at its domestic, US, Canadian and French factories.
It also plans to lay off 3,000 temporary workers in Japan, where it builds cars for both domestic and overseas markets. On Monday, Toyota reported a 37% drop in US sales in December, capping a tough year during which the Japanese giant's sales in the world's biggest car market dropped 16%.
