Toyota Motor Corp. suspended operation of its auto assembly plants in Aichi Prefecture and elsewhere Tuesday due to parts shortage resulting from powerful earthquakes that have rattled southwestern Japan since last week.
With more suspensions planned between Wednesday and Friday, the automaker plans to stop output at 15 of its 16 plants around Japan until at least Saturday. As Sunday is typically not a working day, Toyota is expected to decide around Wednesday whether to resume operation of the factories Monday or later.
Toyota Motor Kyushu Inc., which manufactures Lexus luxury brand models, suspended operation of its Miyata plant in Fukuoka Prefecture on Friday. Production there will now be halted through next Saturday, Toyota said.
Production lines at Toyota’s vehicle assembly plants, including those in Aichi, Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, were suspended Tuesday.
Those of Toyota’s subsidiaries — Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd. — will also be affected, the world’s top selling automaker said.
The quakes have disrupted supply chains because of the widespread damage caused in Kumamoto Prefecture and adjacent areas, forcing the plants there of carmakers and electronic manufacturers to cease production as well as severely disrupting transportation systems in the quake-damaged areas.
Source: Kyodo Video and image: ANN
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