Toyota suspends production for two weeks after recall crisis
Toyota is to close one of its UK factories for an extra week over Easter, as the marque continues to feel the pressure from the global recall crisis.
The carmaker says it will cease production at Burnaston, Derbyshire for two weeks in total in response to falling sales as consumers look to other marques.
The firm was already closing for one week from 29 March, but this will now continue into the week of 5 April. The company is also asking staff to take voluntary redundancy to deal with 750 “surplus” posts.
A spokesman said they were still consulting with staff about the continuation of short-time working.
The firm employs about 3,500 people at the plant, which makes the Auris and Avensis models.
Toyota has been hit by a series of safety recalls, which started with concerns over sticking accelerator pedals. It ran a full-page press campaign to reassure customers over its product recalls, but has subsequently had to deal with more fresh safety concerns.
The problem has dented the company’s image, though Toyota insists the suspension of work was not connected to this.
The company has already said it will halt deliveries of new cars in order to repair the defective accelerator pedals on certain models .
