BackToyota, Honda global output halves in April after quake
Toyota, Honda global output halves in April after quake
Tokyo: Toyota Motor Corp and Honda Motor Co saw their global production slump to around half of year-ago levels in April after the 11 March earthquake and tsunami wreaked havoc with their supply chains.
The drop, flagged by sales figures released at the start of the month, underlines the severity of the parts shortage that is helping overseas rivals take away market share.
Toyota said its global output tumbled 47.8% in April to 308,555 vehicles while Honda Motor Co said its production fell by 52.9%. Nissan Motor Co logged a 22.4% decline.
The tsunami and a nuclear power crisis, which triggered power supply disruptions, have halted production of key semiconductors and diodes as well as resins, paint materials and rubber parts.
Toyota, Nissan and Honda could lose the most in US sales from the shortage, according to consultant A.T. Kearney.
Automakers are trying to speed up efforts to resume full output, and some key suppliers have said that the recovery in production is moving forward a few weeks faster than planned.
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