Toyota unit seeks $2.1 bln state-backed loan -NHK

TOKYO, March 3 (Reuters) - A Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) unit has applied for about $2 billion in loans backed by the Japanese government, to help it cover funding needs amid rising interest rates, state TV broadcaster NHK said on Tuesday.

Toyota Financial Services, which supplies car loans around the world, has asked state-backed Japan Bank for International Cooperation for a 200 billion yen ($2.1 billion) loan as interest rates rise even for top-rated firms amid the financial crisis, NHK said without citing sources. (Reporting by Mayumi Negishi; Editing by Chris Gallagher)