Toyota is laying off 800 contract workers at its Fukuoka plant in southern Japan, the first time it has canceled work contracts before they're complete. The plant currently builds the Lexus RX330 and the Toyota Highlander, which are feeling the effects of the American SUV sales slump. After Toyota's announcement of an 18.7% year-over-year sales decline for July, this is the least they could do to make it look like they're having the same hard time everyone else is. Only difference here is they're planning on hiring 500 workers back in the fall, when sales are expected to increase. [Wall Street Journal]

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