Toyota to Slash Jobs in Japan

Toyota Motor Corp. will cut 3,000 temporary jobs in Japan, as a result of the slumping domestic car market, Bloomberg reports.

Toyota’s move is the latest in a string of similar actions by Japanese auto makers to trim production more in line with local demand. The 3,000 jobs represent half of Toyota’s temporary workforce.

Mazda Motor Corp., Isuzu Motors Ltd. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. also are eliminating temporary positions. Combined, the three are expected to furlough nearly 3,000 workers.

Honda says it will trim Accord production by 40,000 units in Japan. It also is reducing Civic and CR-V output in the U.K. by 21,000 units.

In addition, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. has announced plans to slash domestic production by 72,000 vehicles.

Through October, Japan car sales are down 1.3% and minicar sales are off 1.4%, according to Ward’s data.

Related document: Japan Sales - October 2008