Toyota suspends Lexus GX 460 sales worldwide

AFP - Japanese automaker Toyota said Thursday it was suspending production of its Lexus GX 460 sports utility vehicle from Friday to April 28, after halting worldwide sales due to a roll-over risk at high speed.
   
"We will suspend production of the Lexus GX 460 in our Tahara plant in Japan from April 16 to 28," a nine-day suspension excluding weekends, said Toyota spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi.
   
Toyota suspended global sales of the vehicle after US magazine Consumer Reports gave the SUV a rare "Don't Buy: Safety Risk" rating, the latest blow to the reputation of the embattled Japanese auto giant.
   
When pushed to its limits, the rear of the GX "slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways before the electronic stability control system was able to regain control," the magazine said.
   
Toyota said it will work on analysing potential safety risks in the model, which has already sold 6,000 units.
   
The production halt came as a result of the suspension of sales, said Takeuchi, adding that the same production line will not be stopped entirely because it produces other models.
   
The Tahara plant is the only plant in the world that produces Lexus GX 460, she added, but declined to disclose how many vehicles were made there.

By Douglas HERBERT "This is changing the whole mood, the whole climate at Toyota and putting it on a very vigilant footing." - FRANCE 24's Business Editor Douglas Herbert - April 15, 2010