Toyota Motor Corporation has said that some interruptions to production in North America are likely in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, although it was too early to predict their location or duration.
Toyota has 13 vehicle and engine plants in North America, which have continued to run normally until now, apart from overtime being discontinued.
Toyota said that the great majority of parts for its North America-built vehicles come from approximately 500 suppliers in North America, and that some parts made in Japan were already in transit, which has limited the immediate impact.
Toyota halted production at all of its 12 assembly plants in Japan on 14 March, after the 11 March earthquake. However, its parts plants in Japan resumed production of replacement parts for vehicles already on the market on 17 March and resumed the production of parts for overseas production on 21 March.
Toyota now makes 12 different models in North America, including high-volume vehicles such as Camry, Corolla, RAV4, and Lexus RX 350. Nearly 70 percent of all Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in the US are made in North America.
Prius vehicles are built in Japan, however, and are therefore impacted more by the production halt there. The company said that inventory levels of the Prius at US dealerships are presently “adequate”.
Japanese production of the Prius and two Lexus models is scheduled to recommence next week.
