Even though all plants are functioning, they will be forced to operate at 50% of their maximum capacity due to parts shortage. The Japanese automaker said it still has difficulties in securing 150 types of auto parts," according to a report issued by The Detroit News.
As a consequence to the earthquake and tsunami, just three Toyota plants managed to remain functional in Japan. All this time they have been running at limited capacity starting from late March and early April in order to supply parts for the Prius, Corolla and Lexus models.
One of the most affected areas due to the tsunami is Toyota’s Miyagi plant, where 900 workers kept a moment of silence today in the memory of the victims of the disaster, before starting work.
Until now there are 28,000 people reported dead or missing and in Miyagi alone, police reported that over 8,400 people have died.
Everybody is trying to take any measures in order to improve and re-establish the area and Toru Kuzuhara, president of Toyota subsidiary Central Motor Co. Ltd., which operates the Miyagi plant, stated that once the production has been restarted at the factory, he hopes it would help to reconstruct the tsunami affected region.
"We will make top-quality cars and deliver them to many customers as early as possible. I believe this will lead to broader reconstruction efforts in Miyagi," he said.
"Finally, we can operate our plant. I am so relieved that we can get back to work for the first time since the tsunami," said Yasuhiro Tadokoro, official at the Miyagi factory.
Toyota will keep running all its factories at half production rate until April 27 when they will cease action until May 9 due to Golden Week holidays. Production will restart on May 10 and continue at half the normal pace until June 3.
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