Due to deepening turmoil in the country hit by bloody anti-government protests, Nissan Motor has halted its production in Egypt at least for this week, a spokeswoman said on Jan. 31.
Nissan suspended operations at its plant in Giza, south of Cairo, from Jan. 30 for at least a week, spokeswoman Yoshie Yamazaki said.
The plant produces around 10,000 units annually, mainly of X-Trail sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks.
Six days of protest against President Hosni Mubarak's three-decade rule have shaken Egypt and left at least 125 people dead as the veteran leader clings to power.
Several foreign governments including Japan have said they would evacuate their nationals, while the United States authorized the departure of embassy families.
Among other Japanese firms, electronic maker Panasonic Corp. has urged its employees to postpone business trips to Egypt, Jordan and Yemen, a spokesman said.
Toyota Motor, which sold about 15,000 units in Egypt last year, plans to start assembling 3,000 sport utility vehicles annually in the country from early next year. "The company is halting any business trips to Egypt for now," said spokesman Paul Nolasco, adding there is no impact yet from the political unrest on the automaker's production plans in the country.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2011
