Volvo Cars suspends production at Swedish plant

Volvo Cars, part of China's Geely group, said on Monday that production at one of its main plants would be suspended for a week due to a slowdown in the European auto market.

Production at Torslanda, next to the company's Gothenburg headquarters, will be temporarily halted from October 29 until November 2.

"The measure is taken based on a continued decline of the automotive market, primarily in Europe. Therefore a further adjustment to Volvo Car Corporation's manufacturing operation is necessary," the company said in a statement.

On October 1 Volvo reduced the production pace at Torslanda to 50 cars per hour, down from 57.

During the week-long suspension, "Torslanda plant employees will be on leave with pay through a combination of utilising time banks and leave of absence," it said.

Volvo Car Corporation is a separate entity from Volvo Trucks, the maker of trucks, buses and construction machinery, since the auto company was sold in 1999.