Toyota will cut down the production capacity of some Lexus models that are to be sold in China, as the protests and acts of vandalism there continue against all things Japanese. The luxury brand will reduce production by nearly a fifth by as early as this month.
The plant in question, located in Kyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, currently has the capacity to produce about 1,300 vehicles daily, and that total will be reduced to just 1,000 for an unspecified amount of time, Just-Auto wrote. The two models that will be affected by these cutbacks include the Camry-based ES sedan and CT 200h hybrid hatchback. The former is not sold in Japan.
Toyota officials revealed sales were reduced by about 30 percent compared to just before the outburst of protests and wave of destruction by the Chinese. The actions are a result of the anniversary of a territorial dispute between China and Japan. Some Toyota dealerships were set on fire and many Japanese-made vehicles were vandalized, overturned, or destroyed.
Toyota will monitor the situation and adjust stock as needed. The Fukuoka factory exported 22 percent, or 66,440 of the 302,000 vehicles it built last year to Asia, with China getting the majority of these vehicles. The target of 350,000 vehicles for 2012 may fall short because of this reduction, however.
