The Japanese automaker also said it will maintain its plan of producing 9 million vehicles during the financial year ending on March 31.

Toyota had indicated to some suppliers as of October that its December output would be 980,000 vehicles. But the company decided to adjust the plan after scrutinising its latest parts procurement situation.

In previous months, Toyota was forced to cut down on its production plans due to a shortage of auto parts made in Southeast Asia partly caused by the coronavirus pandemic. That resulted in temporary production halts at factories in Japan.

Toyota in a statement said its 14 factories in Japan will return to normal in December for the first time in seven months.

In order to reach its goal of producing 9 million vehicles by the end of March, Toyota will need to greatly increase output during the January-March quarter of 2022 compared with the same period this year.

“Given that there are fewer (factory) operation days in January and February, manufacturing 9 million vehicles looks quite hard,” said one Toyota supplier.