Jan 19 (Nikkei) - Toyota Motor's annual vehicle output will fall below the latest target of 9 million for the fiscal year ending March, as the chip shortage in Southeast Asia takes a further toll, the automaker announced on Tuesday.
Output is expected to surpass the 8.18 million units Toyota produced last year. But a series of output cuts since autumn has made it difficult for the carmaker to reach the latest target, set in September, when it trimmed its annual global production target for the current fiscal year from 9.3 million to 9 million cars.
The Japanese carmaker also said it will produce more than 700,000 vehicles worldwide in February. That is up 10% from a year earlier but 150,000 cars, or 20%, short of the previous goal.
The fresh announcement confirmed an earlier Nikkei report.
Some chipmakers in Malaysia appear to have been affected by a surge in COVID-19 cases. With Toyota's European auto parts suppliers facing chip shortages, the automaker has been forced to cut production.
Toyota will suspend vehicle production at its Tahara plant, in Aichi Prefecture, as well as at some group company factories in Fukuoka and Miyagi prefectures.
Source: ANNnewsCH
