TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday that it will halt operations of a production line at a plant in central Japan for five days from Aug. 2, due to a semiconductor shortage.

The suspension of operations at the Takaoka Plant in the city of Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, will affect the production of around 9,000 units of the Corolla and the Corolla Touring passenger cars.

Meanwhile, the leading Japanese automaker’s existing sales plan will not be affected, company officials said.

The production line is expected to be restarted on Aug. 16, following the five-day break and summer holidays.

Another line at the same plant, which manufactures the Harrier SUV and other vehicles, will operate as usual.

Semiconductor shortages already forced Toyota Motor East Japan Inc., based in the northeastern village of Ohira, Miyagi Prefecture, to suspend production for as long as eight days at two plants in June.

Other automakers are also having to stop operations at their plants and cut production.

Implications for consumers are also growing, with deliveries of new vehicles being delayed.

JIJI Press