Japan: Toyota Partially Resumes Production

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s biggest automaker, on Monday resumed car production of the Prius and two other hybrid models in Japan, two weeks after the auto giant halted all domestic output as a result of parts shortages stemming from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Toyota restarted car assembly of the Prius and the two luxury Lexus gasoline-electric hybrids at two of its plants in central and western Japan, the automaker said.

The magnitude 9.0-quake and tsunami caused extensive damage to many of parts suppliers that provide components to car makers, forcing Toyota to halt all domestic car production on March 14.

Toyota said Monday it has no concrete plans to resume other domestic assembly plants amid persisting difficulties in parts supply.

Meanwhile, Isuzu Motors Ltd. announced Monday it will restart truck production on April 5.