New United Motor Manufacturing Inc (NUMMI), a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) and the former General Motors Corp [GM.UL] in California, will shed its entire workforce of about 4,700 by next spring, the Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday.

Toyota said in late August it would end output at the California plant it has shared with GM for 25 years, prompting criticism from labour and politicians facing more job losses in an industry and a state pummeled by recession.

Toyota officials could not be reached for comment.

NUMMI is due to halt production at the end of March 2010 to liquidate its operations.

The move to cease operations at the plant underlines the significant overcapacity global carmakers are facing as they try to shake a recession-fuelled sales downturn.

Toyota employs about 40,000 people in North America at more than a dozen wholly owned plants. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka and Hugh Lawson)

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