The vice president of the largest U.S. autoworker union visited the headquarters of Toyota Motor Corp. on Tuesday, urging the carmaker to rethink its decision to shut its Fremont, Calif.-based factory, Toyota officials said.
United Auto Workers Vice President Bob King issued the appeal in a meeting with Toyota Executive Vice President Atsushi Niimi at the head office in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture.
King told Niimi the closure of New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., or NUMMI, will severely undermine employment in the local economy, according to the officials.
But a Toyota official said, "We do not intend to alter the plan to halt production as of April 1."