Toyota cuts 150,000 cars from February production plan, Australian impact unclear – UPDATE

Japanese car giant Toyota has announced it will cut global production again next month by 150,000 vehicles, or more than 15 per cent – which could result in further delays for most Toyota and Lexus models on sale in Australia.

After curtailing production in September and October 2021 – before ramping up again in November and December – Toyota will cut its new-car production output by 150,000 vehicles in February due to the global semiconductor shortage, believed to represent a decrease of nearly 18 per cent.

The 150,000-vehicle tally is said to apply to all Toyota factories worldwide, however the car maker has gone into further detail about the production lines it will pause in Japan, which will affect many of Toyota Australia's best-selling models, including the Corolla, RAV4, Yaris, Yaris Cross and Camry.

A statement from a Toyota Australia spokesperson reads: "Toyota Australia continues to work closely with our global production team to support our dealers and our customers. Together with our parent company, we are doing everything we can to get customers into their new Toyota vehicles as soon as possible.

"We ask customers seeking an update on their individual order to please contact their local/preferred dealer, who is best placed to assist. We apologise to customers experiencing delays and sincerely thank them for their patience."

Toyota Australia is yet to detail specific delays – but with pauses at some Japanese factories stretching to nearly two weeks, it's fair to expect further delays on some of Toyota and Lexus Australia's most popular cars and SUVs – beyond those currently present due to high demand and already-tight supply.

The factory responsible for production of the Yaris city car, Yaris Cross city SUV and C-HR small SUV will cease operations for 11 days in the first two weeks of February, while the smaller Motomachi plant that produces the GR Yaris hot hatch will pause for 12 days.

Production at the Takoaka factory responsible for the popular RAV4 mid-size SUV – which experienced wait times in Australia of up to 12 months on some models, prior to the latest production cuts – will pause for two days. The Corolla sedan is also manufactured at this facility.

In addition to two days of lost production in February due to semiconductor shortages, the line that produces the Corolla hatch, Camry, and Lexus ES sedan will lose production time on four further days this month (January 19-22) due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

This is said to cut January production by 1500 vehicles – from the 800,000 vehicles initially planned for the month, as of mid-December – according to news agency Reuters (via Automotive News).

Lexus will also be affected by Toyota's new February production cuts, with the Miyata factory home to the Lexus NX medium SUV and Lexus UX small SUV – including their plug-in hybrid and all-electric variants – to pause production for 10 days.

A full list of the affected Toyota and Lexus factories in Japan – and how long production at each will pause for – is included at the bottom of this story.

As a result of this new round of semiconductor shortages, Toyota says it expects to miss its target of nine million vehicles planned for production during the current Japanese financial year (1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022).

During the previous Japanese financial year (1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021) – which saw the worst of the pandemic, followed by strong new-car sales growth towards the end of the calendar year – Toyota built 8.18 million vehicles worldwide.

"With regards to the shortage of semiconductor-related parts, we will continue to examine the situation and consult with all companies involved in considering the use of substitutes where possible in anticipation of a continuing shortage," Toyota's global operations said in a statement.

"We will also continue to work with our suppliers in strengthening the supply chain and make every effort to deliver vehicles to our customers as soon as possible. We would like to offer our sincerest apologies to our customers and suppliers for the various inconveniences these adjustments may cause."

In 2022, Toyota Australia is looking to beat the 223,642 vehicles it sold in 2021 – which saw it retain its number-one spot on the sales charts. The extent of the latest February production cuts on Toyota Australia's operations remains to be seen.