Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday that it would stop production in–and exports to–Russia on March 4 until further notice because of difficulties in obtaining parts needed for manufacturing.
“Like everyone around the world, Toyota is watching the ongoing developments in Ukraine with great concern for the safety of people of Ukraine and hopes for a safe return to peace as soon as possible,” the company said.
The announcement comes after several global auto makers said they had suspended sales of cars and trucks in Russia and closed factories in the country in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and economic sanctions imposed on Moscow by the West.
Toyota builds its popular Camry and RAV4 models at its St. Petersburg plant and manufactures up to 80,000 vehicles a year. Most of the cars made at the plant are for sale in Russia, but a small number of vehicles is exported to Kazakhstan, Armenia and Belarus, the company said.
Toyota would also halt sales of imported vehicles in Russia. Together with vehicles produced in the country and vehicles imported from outside Russia, Toyota sells around 120,000 cars a year in Russia, a Toyota spokesman said.
The company said it stopped all activities in Ukraine on Feb. 24. Toyota operates dealerships for sales and after sales services in Ukraine.
Toyota said other manufacturing and sales operations in Europe weren’t affected.
