Toyota, Mitsubishi to Restart Thai Plants in Coming Weeks

Toyota and Mitsubishi plan to reopen their Thailand manufacturing plants in the coming weeks, after closing them early last month when massive flooding cut off parts supplies.

Mitsubishi says in a statement it will restart its production lines Nov. 14. The Bangkok Post reports Toyota hopes to get back to building vehicles Nov 21, after stopping operations Oct. 10.

Pajero Sport among vehicles Mitsubishi builds in Thailand.

The newspaper quotes Toyota President Akio Toyoda as saying the auto maker still is estimating what its overall capacity will be this year.

“We will try to start production as soon as possible, possibly on the 21st of this month, and then slowly increase our production capacity,” he says.

“Toyota expects to increase our investment here over time to develop the automotive industry.”

Toyota, Thailand’s biggest auto maker, has delayed restarting production three times.

However, an unnamed Toyota executive tells the newspaper some parts makers have confirmed their readiness to resume supply.

Output at Mitsubishi’s plant will be limited at first and then gradually increase, the auto maker says.

Its factory was not damaged by the flooding, but production was halted Oct. 13 because of difficulties in parts procurement due to damage at its local parts suppliers.

“MMC has begun to see a gradual improvement in its parts-procurement situation; enough so that parts needed for some of its models produced at the Laem Chabang plant are now available again,” the auto maker says.