Toyota Cuts Factory Work in China

Topics:  Toyota

VOA Breaking News (Voice of America)
April 20, 2011

Japanese carmaker Toyota says it will sharply curtail production in China, citing a shortage of parts in the wake of last month's earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

The company announced Wednesday that it will cut production at its Chinese plants to between 30 and 50 percent of normal capacity through early June. Toyota says it will also move up the summer break at its Chinese plants to April or May.

The March 11 disasters destroyed or damaged scores of factories in northeastern Japan, slowing the country's manufacturing sector and crippling supply chains. Toyota shut down its 18 domestic plants three days after the earthquake, and did not re-open them all until this week.

The automaker has also curtailed production at factories in Europe and the United States.