Toyota Resumes Production on all Japanese Plants: Production 50% of Pre-Quake

Toyota Originally Bound for the US Market

NHK reports that Toyota has now brought all of its Japanese auto plants back online, although production levels remain only 1/2 of pre-disaster rates.  Honda meanwhile will not be back up to full production for the foreseeable future, as its Sayama plant, one of Honda's largest production facilities was completely demolished by last month's earthquake.

From NHK:

Toyota resumes production at all domestic plants

Toyota Motor has resumed production at all its assembly plants in Japan.

Production resumed on Monday at 11 Toyota plants, including 2 affiliated companies in Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures. Those are 2 of the 3 prefectures in eastern Japan that were hardest-hit by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.


The disaster damaged the factories of auto parts makers in the region, and caused the suspension of production at almost all of Toyota's domestic assembly plants.

On March 28th, 2 weeks after the disaster, production resumed for 3 hybrid models at 2 plants of affiliated makers in Aichi and Fukuoka Prefectures in western Japan.
On Monday, employees arrived at a factory in Toyota City in Aichi, well before the start of operations at 6 AM.

One of them said he is happy that the assembly line will be operating again and that he will do his best to provide excellent cars. Another man said he is still concerned as operations will be half the usual level.

Daily output is expected to stay at around 6,000 units for the time being, which is half the usual number, as uncertainty remains involving the supply of parts.
Monday, April 18, 2011 11:37 +0900 (JST)