NAGOYA -- The recent explosion at a Toyota Motor group company that will halt production at all of the automaker's domestic facilities next week highlights a challenge stemming from the Japanese company's minimal-inventory production structure.
Sixteen Toyota group facilities will be shut Feb. 8-13, including four Aichi Prefecture factories of the parent, as supplies of special steel used in engines and transmissions are left short by the Jan. 8 blast at an Aichi Steel plant. Production is expected to be reduced by about 70,000 vehicles.
