Toyota is the next manufacturer to have its global production affected by the ongoing semiconductor shortage. As a result of this, it is being forced to cut 40 per cent of its global production for a short period.
The models affected include the GR Yaris, Corolla, Prius, Land Cruiser Prado, 70 and 300, C-HR, and RAV4. These shutdowns will commence this month and carry on through to the end of September. Affected factories include those based in Japan, USA, Europe and other parts of Asia.
As Automotive News Europe reports, with this decision, it’s expected that the Toyota production run will decrease by 360 000 units in September alone. North American operations will lose out on 80 000 units, Europe 40 000 units and China 80 000 units. Asian operations will decrease by 8 000 units. Within Japan, 140 000 units will be lost to the cut backs.
Despite the worldwide suspensions, Toyota affirms that it is on-track with its production plan to build 93 million vehicles globally in the current fiscal year which ends in March 31, 2022. That total covers output only from Toyota and Lexus as it excludes Daihatsu and Hino.
“We have factored in risk factors in our annual plan. But as for September, the impact came sooner and deeper than expected,” Chief Communications Officer Jun Nagata said.
“In October and beyond, we think there are risks so we will monitor the situation every day, going forward. In October and beyond, we would like to recover as much as we can, but we already have tight production plans,” Global procurement manager Kazunari Kumakura said, adding that Toyota wants to still hit the 9,3 million unit production mark.
“We will do our utmost to achieve this target.”
Toyota’s plan was to build around 900 000 vehicles worldwide in September. The new plan marks a large drop from that goal and from the 973 000 vehicles Toyota produced in September 2020, just as it began recovering from the pandemic shutdowns in the early part of last year. In September 2019, before COVID-19 struck, Toyota manufactured 905 000 vehicles worldwide.
