Toyota assembly affiliate Kanto Auto Works will restore a night shift at its Iwate prefecture plant from around mid-August to boost production of the small Belta sedan (Yaris in US and Australia; Vios in Asia), Kanto officials said.


The night shift would begin – after a six-month break made due to the global auto sales slump – because the car is selling well both at home and in export markets thanks to consumer demand for ‘eco-friendly’ vehicles, the officials told Kyodo News.


Belta sales in Japan have been strong recently thanks to recently introduced government tax breaks on eco-friendly vehicles.