Snapshot
- Production pause to be staggered across global operations
- Targets dropped from 900,000 units to 750,000 across April
- Camry, C-HR, Yaris, Yaris Cross and multiple Lexus models impacted
Further production pauses have been announced by Toyota for its global operations, also affecting luxury sub-brand Lexus.
Rolling on from similar shutdowns last year, the Japanese manufacturer’s planned production output has been slashed by almost 17 per cent, down from 900,000 units to roughly 750,000 vehicles throughout April.
A wide range of models from the manufacturers are set to be affected in some capacity, with Toyota’s Camry, C-HR, Yaris and Yaris Cross caught up in the pause while the Lexus LS, IS, RC, RC F, NX, CT, UX, ES, RX are also impacted.
In its native Japan alone, Toyota still plans to produce 250,000 vehicles throughout the month, while its international operations will account for two-thirds of April’s output – with 500,000 units planned to come off the production line.
Although it’s not yet known whether plans have changed for the coming months as well, Toyota stated its three-month production average from April to June will be “around 800,000 units”.
On top of the ongoing supply chain issues relating to semiconductor shortages and further COVID-19 outbreaks in south-east Asia, Toyota was dealt another blow earlier this week when a magnitude 7.4 earthquake was detected off the coast of Fukishima on Wednesday afternoon.
Production was suspended in nearby plants in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, with Bloomberg reporting that it restarted late Thursday afternoon.
The earthquake also forced Nissan to close its Iwaki plant, although it’s understood the site was due to be shut on Thursday and Friday anyway for workers to be vaccinated.
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Keyword: Toyota and Lexus announce further production pauses, April output cut by over 15 per cent