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Bloomberg
Toyota Motor Corp. will halt production in the UK and France due to transport delays caused by a mutant strain of coronavirus spreading in the UK and that’s led several countries to close their borders with the nation.
The border closures have “disrupted the transportation of parts,†Toyota spokeswoman Shino Yamada said in an emailed statement.
Countries globally have moved swiftly to shutter their borders with the UK amid fears the fast-spreading new strain will infect more people. That’s triggered widespread delays
of goods going in and out of
the UK.
France was an early mover, suspending travel, including freight, on December 20. Places from Canada to Hong Kong and India have also
severed travel links.
Toyota had planned to shutter its UK and France plants starting December 24 for the winter holiday season. Its French operations, as well as its UK Deeside engine plant, will cease activities two days earlier than planned. Another Toyota vehicle plant in the UK will halt operations one day early, from December 23.
The UK plants will resume their operations on January 5 and the France plant will restart on December 29, as was previously scheduled, said
Yamada.
A spokeswoman for rival Japanese carmaker Honda Motor Co. said there will be no changes to the scheduled winter closure for its UK factory, which will last from December 23 through January 3.