The world's top-selling automaker Toyota stops producing vehicles because of a parts shortage

The world's top-selling automaker Toyota stops producing vehicles at all assembly lines across Japan for an entire week because of a parts shortage. The shutdown could tighten supplies of Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in the U.S.
The production suspension begins next Monday and runs through Feb. 13. It will cost Toyota 84,000 vehicles. About 14,000 of those would be exported to the U.S.

According to the company, an explosion knocked out the essential furnace of the No.2 Bar Mill Shop of Aichi Steel’s waterfront Chita Plant in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The plant is located halfway between downtown Nagoya and the city’s airport. Four employees were taken to hospital.

The explosion occurred after an operator lit up the gas-fueled furnace at the start of the night shift. When he lit the pilot burner, the furnace exploded. The company now figures production won’t resume until the end of March.

"Toyota will continue to take any measures necessary to minimize the impact of this incident on vehicle production," the company said, suggesting it could get steel from other suppliers.