Toyota’s global production falls again as rivals expand

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s No.1 automaker, reported Friday that its global production in November fell for the third straight month, even as Japanese rivals Nissan and Honda expanded output.

Toyota, whose reputation took a hit this year from massive recalls, said its worldwide production fell 8.7 percent from a year earlier to 656,924 vehicles. Production outside Japan rose 0.3 percent thanks to higher output in South Africa and elsewhere in Asia.

The maker of the Corolla and Prius hybrid recorded a 9.4 percent fall in exports and a 35 percent slide in domestic sales, which tumbled industrywide because of the expiration of government subsidies for eco-car purchases.

Tokyo-based Honda Motor Co. produced 317,473 vehicles globally in November, up 5.4 percent from a year earlier and the 12th straight month of growth.

Production in China and Asia hit a record high for the company, Honda said. In China alone, it made 61,955 vehicles, up 2.7 percent from the previous year. Honda’s exports rose 71 percent, while sales in Japan plunged 37 percent.

Nissan Motor Co., based in Yokohama, made 372,106 vehicles during the month, up 19 percent and a record high for November, the company said. Robust demand for the new March compact car and the NV200 van drove China production up 19 percent on year to 91,633. That helped offset an 8.6 percent output decline in the U.S.

DirectTV will pay customers and Vermont in settlement

The Vermont Attorney General’s office said DirecTV satellite television customers in the state will get refunds from DirecTV for misleading offers and the state will be paid $185,000.

The Vermont settlement is part of a $13.25 million payment to 49 states and the District of Columbia.

The state said DirectTV’s offers did not make clear that customers would have to extend contracts and be subjected to cancellation fees or additional costs.

Attorney General William Sorrell said businesses that fail to fully disclose all the terms of their offers will have to pay consumers and the state.

Brink’s buys ATM company in Canada for $40 million

The Brink’s Co. said it has acquired Canadian ATM and payment processing company Threshold Financial Technologies for about $40 million.

The Richmond-based armored car company said it purchased Threshold from Ontario-based Versent Corp.

Threshold’s annual revenue is approximately $48 million. It offers transaction processing services for financial institutions and retailers throughout Canada. The company employs about 125 people and also owns and operates a network of private-label ATMs in Canada.

Toyota adding 53 workers at southern Indiana factory

Toyota Motor Corp. said it is adding employees to the full-time work force at its southern Indiana factory in its third such step since lifting a four-year hiring freeze in September.

The company said the 53 production positions will be filled by current temporary workers at the plant near Princeton.

Factory spokeswoman Kelly Dillon told the Princeton Daily Clarion that Toyota has seen improved sales for the Highlander mid-size SUV and the Sienna minivan that are made at the plant.

More than 4,000 people now work at the factory some 20 miles north of Evansville. It has added about 100 permanent workers this year.

CT Transit strike looms after union rejects offer

Drivers and mechanics for CT Transit are nearer a strike after rejecting management’s latest contract offer.

The 750 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union on Thursday rejected the same contract they turned down in another vote on Dec. 5.

The current contract expires Dec. 31.

A strike of the state-run bus service’s workers could disrupt transport for thousands of people.

 

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