Toyota to resume normal production in India

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd said that it will resume normal production from May 20, a fortnight ahead of schedule after the troubled car maker had decided to cut its production by 70 percent in the wake of parts shortage arising out of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the company said in a statement today.

In the wake of disruption in supplies the company had earlier suspended production on Mondays and Fridays between April 25 and June 4.

The Indian arm has lost production of 8,000 units during this period, said Sandeep Singh, deputy managing director, marketing, at Toyota Kirloskar. He said once the normalcy in production is restored, the company shall be able to reduce the waiting period for its entire model by a month, by end of June.

Toyota's plant will function on all weekdays and some of the non-working Saturdays to make up for the production loss. Meanwhile, plans to launch the compact car Liva, are on track, and the company will launch the model by last week of June, said Singh.