Japan's Toyota global output falls 39.1 pct in September

TOKYO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Toyota Motor Corp., a Japanese leading automaker, said on Thursday that its global output dropped 39.1 percent in September year-on-year to 512,765 vehicles.

The reduction was attributed to supply chain disruptions in Southeast Asia amid a resurgence of COVID-19 infections and semiconductor shortage.

The company's output decreased for the second consecutive month, with a 29.9 percent fall in overseas output to 376,015 vehicles and a 55.3 percent drop to 136,750 units in domestic production.

However, Toyota expected a record-high-level output of 850,000 to 900,000 units in November with easing COVID restrictions in Southeast Asia.

Toyota said that its global sales, which were affected by the production cut, declined 16.4 percent to 700,122 vehicles in September, logging the first decrease in 13 months.

The automaker has cut its output outlook for fiscal 2021 through next March to 9 million vehicles, reducing 300,000 from its initial plan. In fiscal 2020, the global output was about 8.18 million units.

"Although the coronavirus infection and parts supply situations remain uncertain, we will make efforts to minimize the impact as much as possible," a Toyota official said.

As the world's top-selling automaker, Toyota has been known for its robust supply chains, but factory shutdowns in Southeast Asian countries caused difficulty in securing enough parts.

In addition, the global chip crunch has already struck auto manufacturers since the COVID-19 pandemic boosted demand for semiconductors and key components used in everything from game consoles to cars.