Bangkok (ANTARA News/AFP) - Toyota said Friday that it would temporarily slash production at its plants in Thailand because of a shortage of parts in the wake of last month`s massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Production at three plants will be suspended on Mondays and Fridays between April 25 and June 4, while the facilities will operate at half capacity from Tuesdays through Thursdays, Toyota`s local unit said in a statement.

The company said it would conduct training for its workers during the stoppage time.

Toyota has already announced production disruptions in Japan, the United States, European Union, China and Australia because of the crisis.

The Japanese giant said Friday it expected global production to return to normal by the end of 2011.

Many key component manufacturers in Japan are based in the worst-hit northeastern regions, where facilities were damaged by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake on March 11 or the giant wave that followed.
(U.KR-IFB/H-AK)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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