Bridgestone Corp, the world’s largest tiremaker, will shut four factories in Mexico until May 5 in response to the outbreak of swine flu in the country.
The company decided on the closure after the Mexican government urged businesses that don’t sell vital goods to close in the period, spokeswoman Mari Tainaka said on Friday by phone. Mexican President Felipe Calderon ordered on April 29 the suspension of non-essential government activities from May 1 to May 5, to reduce the chance of infection.
Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, had already scheduled to close a plant in the country between May 1 and May 8, spokesman Yuta Kaga said. Toyota on April 28 ordered 70 employees at its sales unit in Mexico to work from home.