American output picks up

Toyota Motor, slowed by tight parts supplies since Japan's record earthquake in March, said production at its North American auto plants is recovering faster than expected and will return to normal in September. Full output of eight models, including Camry and Corolla cars, Sienna minivans and Highlander sport-utility vehicles, was restored on June 6, and Tundra and Tacoma pick-ups and RAV4 and Lexus RX SUVs will reach that level by September, said Bob Carter, group vice-president of US sales. Toyota estimated in April that pre-quake production would resume in November. "Our inventories are at the bottom but will be improving quickly," Carter said in a telephone interview yesterday from Torrance, California. Toyota has struggled to restock US dealers in the months since the 9-magnitude quake and tsunami curbed supplies of its top-selling Camry and Prius hybrid. Inventory shortages led to a 33 per cent drop in Toyota's US sales in May and are constraining deliveries this month. The automaker's sales may be "slightly over 100,000 units this month," Carter said. From / Gulf News