Toyota to halt Sai, Lexus hybrids production - Nikkei

Toyota Motor Corp will suspend domestic production of its Sai and Lexus HS250h hybrids, which are to be recalled for faulty brakes, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Toyota intends to submit plans for a recall of its Prius hybrid to the Transport Ministry on Tuesday, and owing to the reason that Sai and Lexus hybrids use the same braking system as Prius, it has decided to also recall them, the report said.

Toyota will halt output at its unit Toyota Motor Kyushu Inc, suspending shipments of both models from Monday.

The Nikkei said a remedy for Toyota's braking systems was currently being formulated and production and shipments will restart once it is ready.

While output is expected to be shut for at least one week, amounting to about 2,000 units for both the models.

The Kyushu-based unit has two production lines, of which one is dedicated to Sai, while the other produces a variety of models, including the Lexus HS250h.

The lines will remain in operation, but will not produce the models subject to the recall, the Nikkei said.

Toyota has sold some 7,700 Sais domestically and around 18,000 of the Lexus hybrids at home and abroad till date, the business daily said. (Reporting by Koustav Samanta in Bangalore; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)