Toyota halts operations at 5 plants in Japan as virus hits demand

Toyota Motor Corp. on Friday suspended seven production lines at five plants in Japan due to a sharp drop in overseas demand caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, as other major Japanese auto and parts makers also find themselves forced to cut domestic manufacturing.The suspension, to be in place until April 15 at the latest, will lead to vehicle production cuts of about 36,000 units, according to the world's second-largest vehicle maker by sales.Toyota said all operations will be stopped at the Tsutsumi and Tahara plants in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan, while some operations will…READ FULL ARTICLE