Toyota Motor reviews Thai projects

Japan’s Toyota Motor is reviewing its investment plan in Thailand, which may prompt the automaker to delay its eco-car project due to the global market slump. However, Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT) would continue hybrid car production, which is due to begin in the middle of 2009, said TMT Vice-Chairman Ninnart Chirathirapinyo. The company had announced that it would reduce production volume by 20% to 25% or 40,000 units between December 2008 and April 2009 and reduce the total volume from 500,000 to 400,000 units in 2009 due to weaker demand from abroad. TMT recently decided to terminate contracts with 335 subcontract workers at its Gateway factory. (November 28, 2008)