Tokyo, Japan - Toyota has resumed operations at all vehicle assembly and parts plants in Japan after its longest domestic production suspension since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
The world's biggest carmaker said earlier in February it would temporarily stop all domestic vehicle production from 8-13 February due to a components shortage following an explosion at supplier and affiliate Aichi Steel.
Additionally, Toyota said production at its “directly owned and operated” plants in Japan that make parts and components would also stop on 8 February for one day, but later extended the stoppage to the 13th.
Parts shortage halts Toyota production
Company spokeswoman Kayo Doi said on Monday: “Toyota would like to confirm that production recommenced today as scheduled.”
In all, 29 vehicle assembly and parts plants resumed operation on Monday as components were obtained from other steel manufacturers as well as other Aichi Steel production lines.
Earlier in February Toyota said the six-day domestic production suspension would be the longest since a 10 day stoppage after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of northeastern Japan.
Doi said the company's production target for 2016 - 10.196 million vehicles globally, of which 4.134 million are to be made domestically - would not be affected as the company “will boost operations on holidays” to catch up with the target.
EXPLOSION
Aichi Steel, which produces speciality steel products among other items, was hit by an explosion on 8 January 8 which badly damaged parts of its production site, and only expects to return to full operation in March.
Toyota does not disclose its daily production plans, but has said it produced 14 000 units a day in 2015.
The company, which overtook Volkswagen in 2015 to keep the title of world's top-selling automaker, produced more than four million cars in Japan in 2015 and more than 10 million worldwide.
AFP