Two months after the twin disaster that struck Japan nearly brought to its knees the automotive industry, the pieces of the puzzle are beginning to come together, at least as far the production process goes.
Toyota, the automaker that was hit the hardest by the supplier crisis after the quake and tsunami, barely managed to get in touch with all of its partners and come up with what it calls a timeline for restoring normal operations.
With its factories plagued by countless shut downs or partial operations, Toyota now says that things will get back to normal in November or December. That's more than nine months since the quake struck.
Toyota says that production in Japan will begin at nearly normal levels up in July. In August, the plants in the US will follow, with full and normal production expected to begin by November or December 2011.
“To all the customers who made the decision to buy a vehicle made by us, I sincerely apologize for the enormous delay in delivery,” said Toyota President Akio Toyoda. “Our entire company is committed to solving the problems before us so that we can achieve production recovery even one day sooner.”
The huge delay in resuming normal operations comes from the fact that Toyota plans to use the same suppliers as before, even if it did say that it might go for other sources as well. The production of Toyota models in hindered by some 150 parts, mainly electronic, rubber and paint-related. Parts for servicing and repairs on the other hand are in abundance, says Toyota.
Toyota, the automaker that was hit the hardest by the supplier crisis after the quake and tsunami, barely managed to get in touch with all of its partners and come up with what it calls a timeline for restoring normal operations.
With its factories plagued by countless shut downs or partial operations, Toyota now says that things will get back to normal in November or December. That's more than nine months since the quake struck.
Toyota says that production in Japan will begin at nearly normal levels up in July. In August, the plants in the US will follow, with full and normal production expected to begin by November or December 2011.
“To all the customers who made the decision to buy a vehicle made by us, I sincerely apologize for the enormous delay in delivery,” said Toyota President Akio Toyoda. “Our entire company is committed to solving the problems before us so that we can achieve production recovery even one day sooner.”
The huge delay in resuming normal operations comes from the fact that Toyota plans to use the same suppliers as before, even if it did say that it might go for other sources as well. The production of Toyota models in hindered by some 150 parts, mainly electronic, rubber and paint-related. Parts for servicing and repairs on the other hand are in abundance, says Toyota.