As workers of Renault's Bursa plant went partially on strike on Thursday to receive an increase in their wages and better employment conditions, the plant management announced Saturday that production was halted until May 18 and asked workers to leave factory premises, which in return declined by workers.

In Tofaş plant (an acronym for Turkish Automotive Plants), a joint venture of Italian Fiat and Turkey's Koç Holding, which the workers are carrying out a support strike for Renault workers, the plant management has send an SMS to the employees that production is halted upon further notice.

Renault has operated in Turkey since 1969 in a joint venture with OYAK, the Turkish army's pension fund.

400 cars are reportedly being produced in a single shift in Renault plant. Tofaş, which also produces commercial vehicles for brands other than Fiat, has an annual capacity of 400,000 vehicles.