Toyota has shut down production at its two auto-assembly plants in India, locking out 6,400 workers amid testy wage negotiations and allegations of threats against management.
A statement from the Indian unit of the world's largest car maker said that "under the instigation of the union, certain sections of the employees have resorted to deliberate stoppages of the production line, abuse and threatening of supervisors."
It said the company had no other option but to declare a lockout "to ensure the safety" of workers and management.
The union could not immediately be reached for comment due to a public holiday in India.
Toyota spokesman Naoki Sumino in Tokyo said there have been no injuries or damage at its two plants.
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In 2012, rioting workers at a New Delhi factory owned by India's largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki, killed a company manager and injured dozens. That factory was closed for nearly a month, which analysts estimated cost the subsidiary of Japan's Suzuki Motors about $18 million a day.
This week's Toyota lockout comes after negotiations that began in April last year and arbitration talks that failed earlier this year.
The two plants outside Bangalore produce 310,000 vehicles a year, including the Innova van, Fortuner sport-utility vehicle, Corolla subcompact and Etios models.
Toyota has been eager to expand in India with sales of its affordable models.
Toyota's Indian subsidiary, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, was set up in 1997 with the Japanese company owning an 89 per cent share and its local partner, the Kirloskar Group conglomerate, owning 11 per cent.
The company recently celebrated the sale of its millionth car in India.
