Toyota output down on Tianjin blasts

Tokyo

TOYOTA Motor Corp will lose its biggest source of car production within China for at least three days, as carmakers struggle to assess the damage of last week's explosions in the port city of Tianjin.

The area's evacuation will prevent Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co from operating through Wednesday. The company doesn't know yet if it will be able to restart production once contamination advisories are lifted and is still confirming the extent of damage to facilities with blown-out windows, spokesman Nicholas Maxfield said in an email. Toyota on Monday also said more than 50 employees were injured after the explosions. The spokesman said the 50 injured were either Toyota employees or Toyota-related personnel.