Toyota to resume output at China plant hit by strike

NAGOYA: Toyota Motor Corp. plans to restart production at its factory in Guangzhou, China, on Monday as a key auto parts affiliate has partially restarted its plant in the same area following a strike there, officials of the automaker said.

The top Japanese automaker's Guangzhou factory was affected by a strike at auto parts manufacturer Denso Corp.'s local factory.

Toyota spokeswoman Mieko Iwasaki said, "We are making preparations (such as inspecting equipment) this week so that we can restart production likely on Monday."

Denso, which resumed part of its operations early yesterday, said the strike was continuing but with fewer workers taking part.

The strike at Denso's factory began Monday with about 300 of the around 1,150 workers seeking higher wages and better benefits. A day after, Toyota halted operations of its Guangzhou plant, which makes four models including the Camry, because it could not procure parts linked to its electric control system.

The development follows the suspension last week of Toyota's Tianjin plant after employees at a parts supplier in the city went on strike. Toyota resumed operations in Tianjin after the labour dispute had been settled.