Toyota has warned customers in Japan that they may have to wait up to four years to take delivery of its new Land Cruiser SUV. The world's largest carmaker said the delay is not related to the global chip shortage or supply chain crisis, but declined to comment on the reasons behind the extended delivery time.
In a statement on its website, Toyota apologised for the long wait, citing strong demand for the vehicle both in Japan and globally. The company said it is considering ramping up production in the medium to long term to address the backlog.
Separately, Toyota announced it is slowing production at up to 11 plants in Japan due to rising Covid-19 infections among workers and at parts suppliers. The latest disruption follows a surge in Omicron variant cases in Japan since the start of the year.
The Land Cruiser, first launched in 1951, is Toyota's longest-selling vehicle, with 10.6 million units sold as of August last year. Toyota's shares fell around 2.7% in Tokyo trade on Friday following the announcements.
