German car makers DaimlerChrysler and BMW continued to be plagued by problems related to faulty diesel injection pumps produced by Robert Bosch on Wednesday, with DaimlerChrysler saying it was halting production not only in Germany, but also in Spain. A DaimlerChrysler spokesman said that production at its Spanish plant in Victoria, where it makes its Vito van, had been at a standstill since January 27.

Production at the group's Mercedes factory in Sindelfingen, would also be shut down next Monday and Tuesday as a result of the problem, which affects fuel pumps made in December and January. A spokesman for Bosch, the world's leading maker of car parts, said the company was confident that it had solved the problem and would be able to resume supplies by Thursday. Mercedes' main rival, luxury car maker BMW, also said it would have close its factory in Dingolfing, which was to have been shut down anyway for the carneval holiday next week for an additional three days.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005