Toyota expects production to normalize by June

MANILA, Philippines—Following a cut in production as a result of the Japan crisis, operations at Toyota Motor Corp. plants worldwide will start to go back to normal levels by next month.

This will include production at the Sta. Rosa, Laguna, plant of Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP), which halved its output and implemented a three-day workweek scheme to stretch available parts inventories, TMP vice president Rommel Gutierrez said.

“TMC announced on May 11 that Toyota production recovery worldwide will start in June. TMC’s near-term production levels are expected to be approximately 70 percent of normal production,” he said. “With the improved supply condition outlook due to the concerted effort of all Toyota suppliers, TMP will adjust production to resume to two-shift operations from June onwards.”

TMP reduced production earlier in the month in line with what its Japan headquarters and other Toyota manufacturing facilities worldwide did. Its Sta. Rosa plant assembles the Vios and Innova nameplates, both widely popular in their respective segments.

Other car assemblers in the country suffered the same fate as the March 11 earthquake in northern Japan, which caused a tsunami and a near-meltdown of a nuclear facility in Fukushima, damaged some plants manufacturing auto parts and components and even key ports and airports.