Having been one of the major contributors to the huge dip in production in Japan last month, due to the natural disaster that hit the Asian country on March 11, Toyota is slowly picking up the pieces and expecting a near normal production output as soon as next month.
According to Freep, citing Toyota officials, the car maker will be 90 percent operational from June in Japan, and it has already announced its suppliers of this development at a meeting on Tuesday. The announcement comes as a bit o a surprise, given the fact that until now (and in this case Toyota's predictions have always come true), June was the month when the car maker was hoping to reach at least 70 percent of the pre-quake months.
Separately, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association released the production numbers for April, the first full month of the post-quake era. The numbers are dramatic to say the least, showing a huge drop of 60 percent to 292,001 units. Toyota was one of the biggest contributors to that loss, itself posting a decrease in the production output of 78 percent (53,823 vehicles).
For what it's worth, things are beginning to look a little brighter for the Japanese auto industry, one of the most important in this export addicted country. The Japanese government is preparing a rescue package worth $617 million fund, money which are to be used to help the local parts suppliers get back on their feet.
"The East Japan Great Disaster seriously damaged supply chains of auto parts makers, and we have been discussing possible financial support for them," a Japanese official said earlier in the week.
According to Freep, citing Toyota officials, the car maker will be 90 percent operational from June in Japan, and it has already announced its suppliers of this development at a meeting on Tuesday. The announcement comes as a bit o a surprise, given the fact that until now (and in this case Toyota's predictions have always come true), June was the month when the car maker was hoping to reach at least 70 percent of the pre-quake months.
Separately, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association released the production numbers for April, the first full month of the post-quake era. The numbers are dramatic to say the least, showing a huge drop of 60 percent to 292,001 units. Toyota was one of the biggest contributors to that loss, itself posting a decrease in the production output of 78 percent (53,823 vehicles).
For what it's worth, things are beginning to look a little brighter for the Japanese auto industry, one of the most important in this export addicted country. The Japanese government is preparing a rescue package worth $617 million fund, money which are to be used to help the local parts suppliers get back on their feet.
"The East Japan Great Disaster seriously damaged supply chains of auto parts makers, and we have been discussing possible financial support for them," a Japanese official said earlier in the week.