Toyota Halts Production in Japan Due to Steel Shortage

The problem started because an explosion at Toyota supplier Aichi Steel Corporation on January 8 damaged the site's ability to produce steel for engines, transmissions, and chassis, according to Reuters. The company now only has enough parts to build vehicles through February 6. To solve this serious issue the automaker might ask Aichi to use alternate production lines, or it could even source steel from other suppliers.

This factory shutdown affects Toyota worldwide because the company exports nearly half of its production out of Japan, according to Reuters. A Toyota US spokesperson told Autoblog the division hadn't yet received details how the steel shortage would affect vehicle deliveries here, but he expected that info soon.