Toyota to cut US May auto production on parts disruptions

19 April 2011 21:48  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS)--Automaker Toyota announced plans to slow May production at its North American plants because of disruptions caused by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the company said on Tuesday.

Production will be suspended on Mondays and Fridays from 26 April to 3 June. During that same period, production will run at 50% on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the company said.

Additionally, production at Toyota’s Canadian plants will be suspended the week of 23 May in conjunction with the Victoria Day holiday. US production will be suspended the week of 30 May for the Memorial Day holiday.

The production cuts are a continuation of previously announced suspensions during the period 15 April through 25 April.

No layoffs are planned during the suspension period, the company said.

“We are trying to continue production as much as possible and keep our workforce intact in order to facilitate a smooth transition back to full production when all parts are available,” said Steve St Angelo, executive vice president at Toyota.

The automobile industry is a large end-market for materials such as polypropylene (PP), nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyurethane flexible foam, synthetic rubber and paintings and coatings.

Toyota has 13 plants, including engine and parts plants, in North America.

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