Toyota is suspending production at all 12 of its plants in Japan for 11 days over February and March.

It's a stoppage of unprecedented scale for the automaker as it deal with shrinking global demand. The last time Toyota halted production in Japan was in 1993, when demand plunged because of a rising yen. But that was for just one day.

The auto industry has been hammered by the global economic downturn, forcing carmakers to cut staff, lower production and delay new models.

Four of Toyota's factories in Japan produce vehicles while the rest make engines and auto parts.