Toyota to Suspend Output of Lexus, Sai Hybrids

Feb. 10, 2010
Will halt sales of the Sai and Lexus HS250h in Japan while it works on how to repair them

Beginning this weekend, Toyota will suspend production of Lexus HS250h, a company spokesman said on Feb. 10.

It will stop producing the two models from Saturday through to February 20.

The company had expanded its global recall to over 400,000 of its Prius and other petrol-electric hybrid models on Feb. 9.

The move covers the newest petrol-electric Prius as well as the plug-in Prius, the Sai sedan and the Lexus HS250h. The company will halt sales of the Sai and Lexus HS250h in Japan while it works on how to repair them, the spokesman said.

"Once we decide exactly when we can make changes (to the vehicles), we will decide when to resume production," he added. "We have to adjust our production because we cannot sell the models even if we make them."

Toyota dealers in Japan have started fixing software problems that can make brakes slow to respond in the third-generation Prius, the company's flagship hybrid.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010

See Also
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Toyoda Takes 'Personal Responsibility' for Automaker Woes
All Toyota Brake Recall Articles

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