Toyota starts gearing up U.S. production

Toyota released a bit of good news Wednesday as its U.S. operation announced it would return to 70 percent production capacity by June.

As Japan’s infrastructure recovers from the mammoth March earthquake and tsunami, parts were flowing again into the important U.S. market. U.S. production had fallen to 30 percent of capacity in May, with most factories closed for much of each week.

Toyota said it plans to push its most popular models ― including the limousine Camry, the Sienna van and the Highlander SUV ― up to100-percent production as soon as possible. Toyota manager Steve Angelo said Toyota in Japan aimed to gear up to full parts production for those models or find alternatives. 

(DPA)