Sooner than expected
Posted Jun 17, 2011 06:26:28 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Toyota says its North American plants will return to full production in September, more than a month earlier than expected.
The plants include two in southwestern Ontario, in the cities of Woodstock and Cambridge.
Activity was hampered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that hobbled Toyota’s operations in Japan and overseas.
The Woodstock plant, which makes the RAV4, is currently at 25 per cent of normal production, operating just one shift for three days each week.
Production of the Corolla and Matrix in Cambridge is back to normal but Lexus production there is at 60 per cent capacity.
Full-time employees were not laid off during the slowdown, but contract workers saw their contracts suspended.