PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- Czech carmaker Skoda Auto AS, a unit of Germany's Volkswagen AG, said Thursday it will not start production in the new year until January 11 because of falling demand, an official said.
Skoda Auto spokesman Jaroslav Cerny said demand had falling particularly in Western European car markets. Skoda already halted production in October and November and plans to do the same starting December 19 in all three of its factories in the Czech Republic. The move will cut production this year by 31,000 units.
Skoda Auto is the country's largest exporter and delivered a record 630,032 cars in 2007.