Toyota 'could resume production in December' thanks to new parts supply

Toyota is aiming to restart vehicle production impeded by the global chip shortage in December, according to reports.

As a result of allegedly gaining renewed stock from its suppliers, the Japanese firm may be able to claw back some of its lost output, sources close to the issue have told news agency Reuters.

It is understood to have asked suppliers to help it make up for its lost production to build 97,000 more vehicles between December and the end of March than previously planned, with workers considering taking on additional hours at the weekend to get the job done.

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2022 LandCruiser 300 Series

However, a Toyota spokesperson in Japan is quoted as saying “nothing has yet been decided about production plans beyond November”.

Toyota previously announced it would be suspending production across 17 of its Japanese factories throughout September as it grappled with the global shortage of semiconductors, with supply chains for plants in the United States, China, Europe and other Asian countries also affected.

At the time at least 20 Toyota and Lexus models available in Australia were on the list of those facing delays, including; the Yaris, Yaris Cross, GR Yaris, Corolla, RAV4, Camry, Prius, Land Cruiser Prado, C-HR, Land Cruiser 70 and Land Cruiser 300.

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2022 LandCruiser Prado

Luxury brand Lexus is caught up in the shortage too with the LC, ES, LS, IS, RC, RC F, NX, CT, UX and RX all listed as being potentially impacted.

Due to shutdowns across a further 10 lines at nine plants announced last month, in September and October production of around 760,000 vehicles has been affected.

Despite the shortages in semiconductor chips and the immediate affect it's having on production, Toyota still anticipates it will be able to manufacture nine million units in a 12 month period – ending on March 31, 2022, although this figure is down from its original projection of 9.3m vehicles.

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2021 Yaris Cross

At a press conference earlier this month, Toyota's Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, told media one-third of the brand’s models will be delayed by four months or less, up to three-quarters of its range could be postponed by as much as six months, and the LandCruiser 70 Series and RAV4 Hybrid (bearing the brunt of the production stoppage), would be pushed back by at least nine months.

On the hotly anticipated LandCruiser 300 Series, Hanley confirmed Toyota was not producing any right-hand drive LC300s across its plants throughout September and October, potentially pushing back the first arrivals to just before Christmas if production resumes in November.

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2021 HiLux

Despite the delays in production to customers, a range of LC300s have arrived in Australia for deliveries to dealers as demonstrator vehicles, providing those who have pre-ordered a chance to see it in the metal for the first time. The caveat being however that dealers are being told not to sell their demonstrators as a part of Toyota's six-month retention period.

Hanley also unequivocally denied any of the marque's models would be de-specced to get around the semiconductor shortage – not willing to sacrifice any existing features or quality to deliver vehicles to customers – and confirmed Australia's favourite Toyota, the HiLux, continues to be produced as normal.

An Australian spokesperson for the firm couldn’t confirm any further changes to production or how it would affect delivery of cars coming into the country, only stating:

“Toyota Australia is continuing to work closely with our dealer network to ensure customers are informed of any changes to their vehicle orders.”