Daimler Idles 18,000 Truck Workers for Several Months

Germany's Daimler auto group will lay off 18,000 workers at its German truck plants for several months, a statement said on April 11.

Daimler said that four Mercedes-Benz plants were affected by the layoffs and the the measures would take effect by Easter (April 12), or May at the latest.

Daimler, the world's leading heavy truck maker, has been hit by weak demand and orders continue to fall, it said.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2009