Toyota Production Backlog Causing Delays

You've probably heard plenty about growing wait times for popular Toyota models – like the RAV4 Hybrid or LandCruiser 300 Series – but the scope of the brand's production woes has now been revealed, with a huge number or orders now waiting to be filled around the world, and in Australia.

How many, you ask? According to American industry outlet Automotive News, Toyota's global waiting list is now around two million vehicles, with millions of customers awaiting their vehicles.

One of the core issues has been the on-and-off shuttering of Toyota's production facilities in Japan, with major plants suffering frequent closures due to a combination of parts shortages and covid outbreaks and seeing local production fall by almost 20 per cent in the first six months of this year.

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According to data from Automotive News, the brands global output int the first six months or 2022 has since fallen 3.8 per cent (or around 200,000 vehicles) compared to the same period last year.

The issue has forced the company to ramp up international production (ie: make more vehicles in factories outside of Japan) in an effort to catch up.

Again according to US media, Toyota's International production output has climbed by 5.6 per cent so far this year, compared to an 18 per cent drop in domestic production.

Toyota in Australia recently took the step of updating its web presence to warn Australian buyers of new-vehicle delay, blaming "unprecedented global and local demand for Toyota vehicles, along with the global coronavirus pandemic...causing continued parts shortages and are impacting vehicle production."

"As a result of unprecedent demand, Toyota is experiencing longer wait times for new vehicle deliveries across its range. Wait times vary by model and trim variants," the update reads.

"Our focus remains on doing everything we can to get customers into their new Toyota vehicles as soon as possible.

"As the availability of supply is an evolving situation around the world, we continue to work closely with our global production team to secure the maximum possible number of vehicles for our customers."

As CarsGuide reported in July, almost every single Toyota model sold in Australia carries a wait time of at least six month, with some (like the RAV4 Hybrid or LandCruiser 300 Series) more like 18-20 months.

Last week, Toyota in Australia "paused" all new orders for the LandCrusier 70 Series, with Toyota's Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, saying the brand was responding to an "evolving situation".

"The Toyota team has been working diligently to deliver a record number of vehicles with extraordinary support from our parent company. At the same time, strong demand and industry-wide supply challenges globally mean we simply cannot fulfil orders more quickly," he says.

"Therefore, we have decided to pause new customer orders for the LandCruiser 70 Series. Dealers will be in direct contact with customers about wait times for individual existing orders over the coming months.

"We are monitoring the global supply situation closely and will continue to make decisions based on the best interests of our customers and dealers.

"I understand this news will be disappointing and want to sincerely apologise to our customers and assure them we will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available."