Violence in Egypt Prompts Carmakers to Idle Local Facilities

General Motors, Suzuki and Toyota have halted their operations in Egypt after a crackdown on protesters by Egypt's military and ensuing riots left more than 600 people dead.

GM has temporarily closed its offices in Cairo and a nearby factory that assembles cars, light trucks and minibuses. The company, which sold 54,000 vehicles in the country last year, says its main concern is for the safety of its more than 1,400 employees.

Toyota has suspended assembly of its Fortuner SUV at a contract manufacturer's plant.

Suzuki makes commercial vehicles at a joint venture with an Egyptian partner. Sumitomo Electric, which makes wire harnesses in Port Said, has evacuated its Japanese employees from the country.

BMW, Daimler and Nissan also operate factories in the same town as GM. Nissan is considering whether to reopen its facility on Sunday after a scheduled maintenance shutdown.