Toyota to cut back on European production

Japanese car makers have been among the businesses worst affected by the earthquake

Toyota is to stop production at five plants in Europe for several days in April and May because component supplies from Japan remain limited.

The announcement comes a day after the Japanese car maker announced similar shutdowns in North America.

Last month's earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan damaged machinery and electricity supplies at Toyota's component factories.

The European plants affected are in the UK, Turkey, France and Poland.

"Even if the supply chain has not yet been interrupted, short-term parts shortages are foreseeable," said Toyota, which has yet to decide on production levels after May.

The shutdowns will take place at British plants in Burnaston, Derbyshire, and Deeside, Flintshire, as well as Adapazari in Turkey, Valenciennes in France, and Jelcz-Laskowice in Poland.

Production there will be stopped there on 21 and 22 April, from 25 to 29 April, and 2 May.

The company's domestic factories have resumed production, although at a reduced capacity.

Factories in Japan will be shut down again between 27 April and 9 May, although that includes the traditional Japanese Golden Week holiday.