AUTOS

Mazda Forces Workers to Take Day Off: Mazda Motor Corp. forced almost all of its 25,000 employees to take an extra day off Monday, becoming the first Japanese auto maker to temporarily suspend operations in order to trim production. About half the 20 parts makers that supply Mazda were also closed, the Japan Broadcasting Corp. reported. Mazda spokesman Yoshifumi Matsuzawa said the shutdown cut production by about 7,500 autos from the previous plan of 1.2 million vehicles for 1993. Mazda has requested employees to take another day off next Monday.