BRIEFS - Mazda to stop making cars in US

• Mazda to stop making cars in US

TOKYO (AP):

Mazda Motor Corp plans to leave its joint venture with Ford Motor Co and stop building cars in the US, the Nikkei financial daily reported Friday.

Mazda and Ford operate the AutoAlliance International plant in Michigan as a 50-50 partnership. Citing unnamed company sources, the Nikkei said Mazda is considering selling its stake to Ford as the Japanese automaker tries to restructure its global production.

Mazda cars sold in the US will be shipped from Japan and Mexico starting around 2013, according to the Nikkei.

• Chrysler to sever gov't ties

DETROIT (AP):

Chrysler Group LLC, newly profitable and confident in its revamped products, will soon sever its ties with the US government.

Italian automaker Fiat SpA agreed late Thursday to buy the US Treasury's six per cent interest in Chrysler for US$500 million. Once the deal closes, the government will no longer hold a stake in the auto company. Treasury officials said it could take up to three months to make sure the agreement meets regulatory approvals, but it will likely close more quickly than that.

President Barack Obama is expected to announce the agreement Friday during a trip to a Chrysler facility in Toledo, Ohio.

• Honda to add shift

GREENSBURG, Ind (AP):

Honda said Tuesday it will add 1,000 jobs at its southeastern Indiana plant by the end of the year by adding a second shift.

Greensburg plant spokeswoman Anita Sipes said the factory's workforce will double with the new shift. She said employees were told about the plans last week.

Sipes says the company planned to add a second shift since the factory opened in 2008, but that those plans were delayed because of the economic downturn, according to The Indianapolis Star, which first reported the factory's plans.

"We were waiting for the economy to rebound so this seemed like a natural time," she told The Associated Press.

• Toyota US sales dip

DETROIT (AP):

Toyota says its US sales fell 33 per cent in May because of earthquake-related vehicle shortages.

Toyota said sales of all Toyota and Lexus cars but one - the new Scion tC - declined from last May. Among SUVs and trucks, only the Tacoma pickup saw sales increase over last May. Sales of the Prius hybrid, which is made in Japan, were down 51 per cent, while sales of the Camry sedan fell 36 per cent.

Toyota Motor Corp said the decreases were expected because the company had to slow down production after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. But the company said Japanese production should be back to 90-per cent of capacity this month, and North American production is also recovering.