As production levels remain robust, the company will recruit about 350 new workers starting this July, the business daily said.

The new workers will be employed at the firm's auto plant in Obu and its forklift factory in Takahama, both in Aichi Prefecture, among other locations, it said.

The company has been reeling from massive vehicle recalls and criticism that it was slow to react to safety issues, after it recalled more than 8 million vehicles worldwide, most in the United States, since last October.

Toyota Boshoku Corp, which makes car interiors, and Toyota Auto Body Co are also adding contract workers, the paper said. (Reporting by Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Bangalore; Editing by Maju Samuel)

Toyota