Unrest in Thailand Prompts Hino to Cut Production

Toyota Motor Corp.'s Hino Motors commercial truck unit says it has begun reducing production work hours 50% in Thailand because civil unrest is disrupting the market.

Hino notes that the cut in operating time does not necessarily mean unit output will drop to half. But the company did not elaborate.

Hino's sales in Thailand rose 6% in April-December last year. But sales plunged 23% in the final three months of that period after anti-government demonstrations accelerated in November.

Thailand is Hino's third-largest market after Japan and Indonesia, according to The Nikkei. The newspaper notes that Thailand will hold a general election on Sunday, but its says Hino officials aren't sure when production will return to normal.