Toyota trims Japan output due to Thai flooding

TOKYO (AP) - Toyota Motor Corp. is trimming production this week at its group assembly plants in Japan due to a shortage of parts from suppliers in Thailand, where severe flooding has disrupted its supply chain.

Toyota official Shiori Hashimoto said Wednesday that Japan's biggest automaker has suspended overtime work from Monday to Friday at four Toyota factories and seven group companies that assemble cars and trucks.

The company estimates it will lose 6,000 units due to the cutback, she said.

Toyota's three assembly plants in Thailand halted operations on Oct. 10 and will remain shut until at least Oct. 28, Hashimoto said. Its parts factory has reduced shipments. The biggest disruptions are coming from Thai parts suppliers, she said.

Another Japanese carmaker, Honda Motor Co., has temporarily ceased production at its Malaysian factory due to parts shortages.

Thai authorities warned that the capital could be swamped by up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) of water if flood barriers fail. Bangkok's second-biggest airport was shut down by the flooding, and the government declared a five-day public holiday starting Tuesday in affected areas to deal with the disaster.

The floods forced a halt to Honda and Toyota plants in Thailand two weeks ago that account for about 7 percent of their combined global car production.

The disruption comes just as Toyota and Honda bounce back from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan that destroyed autos parts suppliers.