Toyota resumes production at factories in Japan

18 Apr 2011

Production at Toyota Motor Corp resumed at all its plants in Japan today for the first time since 11 March, the day Japan was battered by an earthquake and tsunami.

The company however says, the factories will run at half capacity due to parts shortages.

The world's No 1 automaker said it had not yet been able to tie up supply of around 150 types of auto parts.

The magnitude-9.0 earthquake  and the tsunami following it destroyed many factories manufacturing auto parts in northeastern Japan, causing severe shortages of components.

The doule-blow led to Toyota suspending production at all its facilites in Japan except at three plants. These plants are however running at limited capacity since late March and early April rolling out hot-selling Prius, Lexus and Corolla cars.

The 900 workers at Toyota's auto plant in Miyagi, one of the worst-hit areas in the disasters, observed a minute's silence for tsunami victims before starting work today.