Nissan has halted production of two models made in Sunderland for two weeks from October 24, due to falling sales. Instead of building the Micra and Note, the 800 workers will attend training, said the carmaker. Nobody will lose wages.

When output resumes on Monday, November 10, production lines will run, on average, for three days a week for the next fortnight.

The move is intended to reduce annual 370,000 unit output by 10%.

Toyota’s plant in Burn-aston recently trimmed a shift to cut production of its outgoing Avensis, and Vauxhall shut its Ellesmere Port factory for 18 days. 

Ford cut Transit production at Southampton. Jaguar Land Rover closed its Halewood plant for a week, and Mini’s Oxford plant will shut for a weekend next month.