Evansville Courier & Press
Toyota's Princeton, Ind., operation will suspend its production of Sienna minivans on five days in January.
Workers in the company's East plant will not be making the Sienna between Jan. 5 and Jan. 9. They will instead undergo training and exercises meant to improve quality and efficiency.
Workers in the company's West plant will meanwhile continue to make the Sequoia sport utility vehicle. Kelly Dillon, a Toyota spokeswoman, said the five nonproduction days will come shortly after the Princeton operation's usual holiday break, which lasts from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2 this winter.
About 4,500 people work at the Princeton plant.
In November, Toyota had announced several other nonproduction days. The entire Princeton plant will suspend its production on Dec. 19, 22 and 23.
These are the latest steps Toyota has taken to deal with a falling demand for its large vehicles. In August, it began a suspension of Sequoia production which lasted for three months. It also consolidated the production of Tundra pickup trucks in its San Antonio plant.
Last month, Toyota announced plans to make about half as many Siennas in January as it makes in December.