Japanese automaker Toyota Motor will make 2% fewer vehicles worldwide in August than originally planned, the Japanese automaker stated on Tuesday, as output recovers gradually from a sharp decline because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The automaker said it intended to make 15,000 fewer vehicles than its original plan. August’s reduction is smaller than the cut of 10% observed in July, and June’s 40% reduction.
As Japan sees chances of the second wave of coronavirus infections spreading from the capital, one Toyota worker employed at its headquarters has tested positive for coronavirus after developing symptoms earlier this month, the automaker said on Tuesday. Toyota added it disinfected the affected work sites on July 17 and resumed operation shortly.
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, the automaker also plans to skip media briefings for its fiscal first and third quarterly results, but only release filings, a company spokeswoman informed Reuters.
About 25,096 people in Japan have been confirmed as being infected with the coronavirus, of which 19,757 have made recovery. The virus has killed 985 people in the country.
Global automakers are gradually resuming vehicle production after the closure this year of many plants to reduce the spread of the virus, although many still expect that output and sales will be lower this year than 2019.
The updated production plan accounts for an output cut of 9% from a year ago.
Toyota said it would produce 6,000 fewer vehicles in Japan, and 9,000 less outside Japan.
