Toyota targets 90% output in June

Toyota Motors has said its production in Japan is likely to return back to normal levels faster-than-expected.

The company’s spokesperson Paul Nolasco told the BBC that output at its domestic factories is expected to recover to 90% of pre-quake levels as early as this month.

Last week, Toyota had reported a 74.5% plunge in production at its Japanese factories in April.

Toyota is the world’s biggest car manufacturer.

Production at Japan’s car manufacturers has been hit hard due to disruptions in the country’s supply chain in wake of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.

However, the company said the situation had been gradually improving.

“We have had a constant recovery in our supply chain and that is starting to have a positive effect on our production,” Mr Nolasco said.

‘Extremely committed’

Toyota said the speed at which the company’s production is recovering was a result of the combined effort of the firm and its suppliers.

“The key behind all of this has been the extremely committed effort by our suppliers to get back on track,” Mr Nolasco said.

“After the quake we were facing a shortage of almost 500 parts, the numbers have since decreased to 30 parts or may be even less right now,” he added.

Toyota said that it had also sent workers from its own factories to help its part suppliers get back to normal production.

The company said that while the recovery had been fast, there was still work to be done.

“Ninety percent is not the end game, there is still room for improvement,” Mr Nolasco said.

“We still have to reach full capacity and also have to take care of our overseas production,” he added.
Source: BBC