Recalls force Toyota to put brakes on vehicle production

TOYOTA plans to slow down car production at two of its assembly plants in the United States while it grapples with massive recalls.

Spokesman Mike Goss said a plant in Texas has scheduled production breaks for the weeks of 15 March and 12 April, and that a plant in Kentucky has scheduled a non-production day on 26 February and may not produce vehicles on three further days in March and April.

Toyota has recalled 8.5 million vehicles globally during the past four months because of problems with accelerator pedals, floor mats and brakes, threatening to undermine the safety and quality reputation of the world's largest car maker.

Goss confirmed the decision was connected to the recalls. He said workers at the plants will be retained and paid during the production suspensions and will receive additional training.

The Kentucky plant builds the Camry, Avalon and Venza for Toyota. The Texas plant manufactures the Tundra pickup truck.

Toyota temporarily suspended sales of vehicles such as Camry and Corolla in late January after it issued a recall of millions of vehicles over problems with potentially sticky accelerator pedals. Dealers began selling affected vehicles again after about five days, when Toyota announced a repair that it said would solve the problem.

But the lost sales days meant many were left with higher numbers of unsold cars.

Goss said the firm wants to ensure dealers do not build up excessive inventories as they try to clear the cars still in their showrooms.

"Our dealers are busy trying to sell those vehicles, but we can't let inventory back up on top of that," he said.

Toyota vice-president Bob Carter said on Monday that the firm had repaired about 500,000 of the 2.3 million vehicles recalled over a potentially sticky pedal.

Toyota said its president, Akio Toyoda, will today answer more questions in Japan on the beleaguered company's recalls.