Georgetown Toyota postpones production restart a week; here’s why
Toyota had planned to restart North American production including in Georgetown next week, but Wednesday afternoon the company put that on hold.
Instead of restarting the week of May 4, Toyota announced it would begin a week later.
“Based on an extensive review with our supplier and logistics network, Toyota will postpone its ramp up of its North American manufacturing operations from the week of May 4 to the week of May 11 including its vehicle and engine plant in Georgetown,” according to a statement.
“As previously stated, Toyota intends to gradually resume its manufacturing operations in compliance with federal health and safety guidelines, and local and state ordinances where our facilities are located. The health and safety of our employees and stakeholders remain a top priority and we have implemented new protocols at all of our North American manufacturing plants to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to follow all safety guidelines and monitor vehicle demand as we carefully ramp up production.”
Toyota spokesman Rick Hesterberg said the snag was “a vehicle parts issue.”
Suppliers are still under shelter-in-place guidelines and can’t get the parts to the plants, he said.
The plant shut down March 23 after a worker in Canada tested positive for coronavirus.
Toyota announced earlier in April that the Georgetown plant and others would reopen with major changes designed to protect workers, including mandatory wearing of masks, temperature screenings, social distancing guidelines, staggered start/stop times and sanitizing protocols.
Also on Wednesday, VW US announced that its restart of the Chattanooga plant is on hold indefinitely.
