Toyota and Honda limit US production in quake aftermath

Apr 8, 2011, 20:49 GMT

New York - Japanese carmakers Toyota and Honda both announced disruptions Friday to their US manufacturing plants as the March 11 earthquake continues to limit the supply of critical parts from Japan.

Toyota said most of its plants in North America would suspend production for five days this month because of the limited availability of parts. The 25,000 workers employed in the impacted factories will work on plant improvement and training on these days, Toyota said.

'The situation in Japan affects many automakers and many other industries. Extraordinary efforts are underway to help suppliers recover,' said Steve St Angelo, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America.

'We are slowing down to conserve parts yet maintain production as much as possible. We appreciate the flexibility of our team members, suppliers and dealers as we work through these issues.'

Honda said it would extend the reduced production schedule that it introduced on March 30 until April 22, and that additional production adjustments would also continue beyond that date.

'Teams throughout North America and global Honda continue to work diligently to overcome these temporary parts flow issues,' Honda said in a statement.

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