All About Japan Autos

Yesterday, we updated you on Honda and Toyota’s production following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Today, we have a positive update: Production for the Toyota Prius, Lexus CT200h and HS 250h will resume Monday, March 28.

“Today’s announcement comes one week after TMC in Japan restarted production of replacement parts, and three days after reopening some of its plants which produce parts for overseas production,” Toyota writes in a press release. The automaker adds that it will assess parts supplies before reopening other Japanese plants.

While production is picking back up for the Prius, CT 250h and HS 250h, the same can’t be said for its Prius minivan – known as the Prius V in the United States – which was slated to debut in Japan this April. Toyota also announced that it is postponing the Prius derivative’s launch. This means that the Prius V may not hit its summer 2011 U.S. launch date. Kicking Tires, however, is optimistic and thinks Toyota can still bring the Prius V stateside with little delay.

Inside Line received an email from Mike Michels, the vice president of communications for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., who stated, “‘Of course, everything regarding Japan production is quite fluid, and everything is currently on hold, but I can confirm that it has been decided to delay production of the Prius V.’” Michels adds that Toyota hasn’t set an exact deadline.

That’s bad news for consumers who were looking forward to the Prius V, Toyota’s first hybrid minivan. But, with production resuming for the current Prius, the CT 250h and the HS 250h, there should be less of a US bottleneck.

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