NHK: Toyota To Cut Production By Half

Cars, anyone? No, I didn't think so. That's why I feel blogging about trains and other more environmentally friendly transportation options makes so much sense. We need investment in public transportation, not in fancy cars. Do you own a car? I do not. Are you worried yet? I am. Toyota Motors announced today that it plans to make half the number of vehicles it produced in 2008. Half. 50%.

NHK World quotes industry sources, that say the company will slash production to around 9,000 vehicles a day in February and March at plants across Japan:

The company already reduced production last month when it set a daily output for the 3 months until the end of March at 12,000 units. Toyota also planned a coordinated stoppage of operations at domestic plants for 11 days from February through March. But it may be forced to take a similar measure in April as well, as there is no sign of improvement in global car sales.


Ladies and gentlemen, this is how Toyota, the worlds most sucessful automobile company is dealing with the current crisis: make less cars. Make a lot less cars. NHK notes that industry sources say if Toyota continues to reduce domestic production, it may have to reduce its workforce again. Less is becoming the new lean.



Five Lean Principles: video by rasmusbm

Comments

vegetablej said…
Interesting video and concepts. I don't know if excess is the opposite of this kind of lean, but Japan does have a lot of it, especially in Tokyo. Seems like one of the most excessive things is the number of people in small spaces.

Great news about Toyota; now if we can only get some cars off the roads.
Tom O said…
"Seems like one of the most excessive things is the number of people in small spaces".

Well, if you spend time in the cities thats just a fact of life! Shouganai!! Is also why if I lived in Japan again it could just not be in a city. If one doesn't need that organic/nature (shizen)/green kick then fine - used to know a few who were missing those vital ingredients of the soul, so to speak, when living in Tokyo.

As for cars there is/was a movement, maybe in America, who siad that once guns had been removed from people full stop work should start on the next on the list - cars. Primarily as in their role of killers in crashes etc but also the pollution aspect - and not just in terms of oil. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of too many places in the world where 'iranai' cars are recycled. Just dumped. Like refridgerators. Like oxygen tanks and the like at the top of Mount Everest. Just dumped. 'Hey, who cares?? Our kids can take care of it!' If one has kids of course...
Pandabonium said…
I just bought a new Toyota and was shocked to find that they had cut it in half!

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