Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Thursday it will temporarily suspend operations at all three of its plants in Japan in April, as global auto demand is plummeting amid the spread of the new coronavirus.

Its Okazaki plant in Aichi Prefecture, producing sport utility vehicles among others, will be halted from April 9 to 17. Mitsubishi's subsidiary Pajero Manufacturing Co. will suspend its production in Sakahogi, Gifu Prefecture, between April 13 and 20.

Mitsubishi Motors will also idle production of vehicles excluding minivehicles at its Mizushima plant in Okayama Prefecture from April 6 to April 23.

The plant has already stopped manufacturing minivehicle models from March 27 through April 10 but will resume the operations on April 13 if a delay in parts supplies is resolved.

Slowing demand in the wake of the global virus outbreak is hurting Japan's auto industry, forcing the country's eight major carmakers to cut back or temporarily stop production at home.

==Kyodo

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