Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday its total global output in the year through March is likely to fall below its initial target of 9.7 million units due to an ongoing semiconductor shortage, with the automaker expected to revise down its outlook.
The company did not provide a revised target in its press release and is expected to supply an explanation when it announces on Nov. 1 its earnings results for the first half of fiscal 2022 that ended in September.
The world's No. 1 automaker had said in May that it planned to produce a record 9.7 million units globally.
Its global output for November is expected to stand at around 800,000 units, with about 250,000 to be manufactured in Japan and the roughly 550,000 remaining to be produced abroad.
Toyota will also suspend operations of 11 production lines across eight factories in Japan for two to nine days because of the chip crunch, reducing output by approximately 60,000 vehicles.
Those affected include the Takaoka plant in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, as well as Toyota Motor East Japan Inc.'s Iwate plant in Kanegasaki, Iwate Prefecture, and its Miyagi Ohira plant in Ohira, Miyagi Prefecture.
Toyota Motor Kyushu Inc.'s Miyata plant in Miyawaka, Fukuoka Prefecture, will also be affected.
The factories produce vehicles including the Corolla Cross sport utility vehicle, the Sienta minivan and the Yaris compact car, among others.
In fiscal 2021, the automaker globally produced about 8.57 million units after revising downward its initial outlook.
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