Czech Carmaker to Cut Production

PRAGUE, Czech Republic The AP reported that Czech automaker Skoda Auto AS is proposing to suspend production for nearly three weeks starting in late December to adjust its output to the global economic slowdown, an official said Monday.

Spokesman Milan Smutny said Skoda wants to suspend production from Dec. 21 through Jan. 7 to reduce output by 5,000 cars. He said the move still has to be approved by the unions.

If approved, the suspension would be the third such stoppage this year.

Last month, the company stopped production to cut the output by 3,800 vehicles, and three Friday afternoon shifts are to be curtailed in December to cut production by another 1,800 automobiles.

Skoda Auto, a unit of Germany's Volkswagen AG, originally had planned to produce 460,000 cars in 2001, up from the 435,000 produced in 2000.

The company is the country's largest exporter.