Shortage Means Pauses in Toyota Tacoma Production
While no workers are set to be furloughed, a raw material shortage means Toyota will pause production of the Tacoma.
Late last year, I wrote about how sales of the Tacoma have remained strong through the pandemic. Given that it’s a go-anywhere vehicle with a reputation for hammer-like reliability, it makes sense that during uncertain times, Toyota’s venerable rig would prove a compelling choice. And those robust sales numbers were part of the reason that back in February, the company dethroned Volkswagen to become the world’s largest automaker.
But now, a mysterious shortage is making an impact on Toyota’s cash cow. Details comes via our friends at the The Wall Street Journal:
Toyota cited an unspecified shortage of petrochemicals at some North American plants. The shortage would affect production at vehicle factories in Kentucky and Mexico, as well as an engine plant in Alabama.
The company said it would intermittently cut shifts or production lines of the Camry and Avalon sedans, the Tacoma pickup truck and the hybrid version of its RAV4 sport-utility vehicle to deal with the shortage. It said that for now it didn’t expect to have to furlough any workers.
Now, when I read that Toyota was going to have to pause production of some of its best-selling models, I figured the global chip shortage was to blame. It’s been wreaking havoc across an industry that’s already been hit hard by COVID 19, and as a report from Reuters recently noted, it doesn’t show signs of letting up anytime soon.
Of course, it takes more than computer chips to build a 4×4, and over the past 18 or so months the world has proven to be a complicated place. With shipping and port facilities strained from COVID 19-releated complications, and extreme weather events — like the recent Texas freeze — crippling entire regions, something with as many moving parts as an automotive supply chain are bound to feel the impacts. It’s as obvious as it is unprecedented.
At this point, it’s not clear what kind of effect the pause at the Tacoma plants will have on consumers. Brands and dealers always strive to have a comfortable cushion of stock on hand, especially for popular models, so buyers generally won’t be effected by hiccups in production. If the shortage drags on however, we could see a slowdown in the arrival of new product to showrooms, which could translate into high prices for those in the market.
That said, if you’re shopping for a 2021 Tacoma right now, let me know if you’ve experienced any static when trying to find your perfect truck. I’d like to know how development is manifesting at the dealership level.
Photos: Toyota