RASTATT, Germany, June 4 (Reuters) - Mercedes-Benz

is closely coordinating with its top suppliers over

rare earth procurement, the carmaker's production chief said on

Wednesday, saying that "physical buffers" played a role in the

discussions.

Joerg Burzer, Mercedes-Benz's management board member in

charge of production, made the comments during a roundtable with

journalists.

Earlier on Wednesday, Europe's auto supplier association

CLEPA said several plants and production lines had been shut

down due to a shortage of rare earths caused by China imposing

restrictions on exports, warning of further outages to come.