Aichi, Japan (AHN) – Toyota said Friday that production in its factories in Japan, where a quake has led to a nuclear crisis, will continue at half volume next month due to continuing supply chain issues.
The automaker, which has suspended production during selected dates in North America plants, resumed limited production in some plants in Japan earlier this month.
The Japan-based company is set to restart assembly lines at all local plants on Monday at 50 percent of normal production volumes. Production rates will remain at the same level when workers return on May 10 after the spring holiday in Japan, until June 3.
A shortage of parts has plagued the carmakers dependent on Japanese suppliers following the quake. Toyota did not have to suspend operations in North America but it has slowed production by stopping overtime work. In addition, the company began a production stoppage in North America for five days beginning Friday.
Parts and components for the 12 Lexus and Toyota models built in the United States are sourced from 500 suppliers in North America. Toyota last month resumed shipments of parts to the United States and began production in Japan of Prius and Lexus hybrids, for which worldwide demand is high.
A magnitude 9 quake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan on March 11, causing a 10-meter high tsunami and leading to a partial meltdown at a nuclear facility north of Tokyo.
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April 16th, 2011 
davidguide 
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