Japan Car Makers Cut 4,300 Workers

Hurt by slumping sales in their home market, Japan’s four largest auto makers said they have cut 4,300 workers from their payrolls. The biggest cuts were made by market leader Toyota Motor Corp., which said it has trimmed its Japan work force by about 1,800 employees since March and might cut another 1,500 jobs by fall if domestic sales fail to pick up. The company said the employees who lost jobs were short-term contractors, not part of Toyota’s work force of more than 60,000. Honda Motor Co. said it has made similar reductions, cutting 1,200 contract employees since December. No. 2 Nissan Motor Co. said it has let go 700 contract workers this year, and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said it has cut 600 jobs.