Further production delays for Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series

UPDATE, January 25: With a week left before February begins, Toyota has updated its January production expectations, announcing 28 production lines across 14 Japanese factories will be suspended.

Toyota had been targeting output of 800,000 vehicles for January, but this number is now expected to reduce by 65,000 due to COVID-related parts shortages.

While many of the models included in this announcement are for models not sold in Australia, production will affect the LandCruiser 300 Series, LandCruiser 70 Series, LandCruiser Prado, GR Yaris, Corolla, Camry, C-HR, HiAce, Prius, and a number of Lexus vehicles.

Most of the 28 production lines will be shut for just two days this week, though six factories will also see shut-downs in February.

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The story to here

January 21, 2022: Toyota’s Japanese website is quoting a wait time of up to four years for the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.

The four-year timeframe being advised by Toyota is for Japanese customers there who place an order for a new-generation LandCruiser from this point forward.

“We sincerely apologise for the fact that LandCruiser has been very well received not only in Japan but also around the world, and it is expected that it will take a long time to deliver it after receiving an order,” the translated statement read.

“The delivery time for ordering from now on may be about four years. We will do our utmost to shorten the delivery time for our customers, and we appreciate your understanding.”

But while Toyota Japan has provided an update for its customers, Toyota Australia has yet to explain what the implications are for Australian buyers except to say the two situations aren't comparable.

“Vehicle allocation is market specific, so suggestions that Japan’s reported LC300 wait times are attributable to Australia is incorrect,” a representative for Toyota Australia told 4X4 Australia.

“We ask our customers to please contact their local dealer for updates on the status of their individual orders. Quoted wait times will vary between dealers, depending on their individual stock situation, which is why you may hear of different advice on delivery times being provided to customers around the country.”

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Toyota was forced to shut down some manufacturing in December, including production for the LandCruiser, impacting output of up to 20,000 vehicles – though the company did not provide any information on how these shut-downs would affect Australian deliveries.

While Toyota has confirmed LandCruiser production will be at full speed in February, the carmaker has been forced to pause production of the Corolla, RAV4, Yaris, Yaris Cross, and Camry next month thanks to the ongoing semiconductor shortage – with up to 150,000 vehicles affected.

“The latest update from this week shows there is currently no plan to reduce production of the LandCruiser 300 for the month of February,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

“Toyota Australia is continuing to work closely with our global production team to support our dealers and our customers. Together with our parent company, we are doing everything we can to get customers into their new Toyota vehicles as soon as possible.

“We apologise to customers experiencing delays and we sincerely thank them for their patience.”

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December 21, 2021: A fifth Toyota factory will suspend production from January, with estimates increasing to 20,000 vehicles affected.

The latest report from news outlet Reuters adds one more factory shut-down to the list, with four Japanese plants already at a standstill due to COVID-related parts supply issues originating in Southeast Asia.

Within a matter of weeks, the Japanese car giant has revised its estimated production impact from 3500 vehicles to 20,000, while also announcing it is expecting to reach its target of 800,000 units in January.

While the shut-downs impact LandCruiser 300 Series output, Toyota Australia has yet to advise what delays – if any – will be applied to local orders.

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December 16: Toyota has increased its expected production losses for December from 9000 to 14,000, according to Reuters.

It’s the third revision upwards in a matter of days, with Toyota originally estimating output losses to be capped at 3500 vehicles for the month – though it’s not clear what percentage is made up of the LandCruiser.

The information comes as Toyota announced production for January was expected to reach 800,000 vehicles. However, the announcement was a carbon-copy of its December production estimates released just weeks before it was forced to shut down a number of its plants.

The current production cuts are said to affect Lexus models and the LandCruiser 300 Series, but Toyota Australia has yet to provide information on whether the shortages will impact Australian buyers.

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December 13: The 2022 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series has experienced yet another delay, according to Reuters, following a parts shortage from suppliers in Southeast Asia.

Almost a month exactly after Toyota said it would resume full production for December, the company announced late last week it would be halting work at four Japanese factories – with the new LandCruiser 300 Series impacted by the unexpected delay.

Within 24 hours, Toyota's own expected production losses grew from 3500 to 9000 – less than 0.1 per cent of the carmaker’s forecasted annual production – though it's not known at this stage whether there will be any delays to Australian deliveries.

4x4 Australia has contacted Toyota for comment.

Earlier this month, buyers on social media reported being contacted by local Toyota dealerships and offered the opportunity to take immediate delivery of LandCruisers in different specifications to the vehicle they placed an order for.

It’s believed some dealerships received a handful of new LandCruisers at short notice, but have since been briefed and have given information on customer order build dates and expected arrivals – with many vehicles currently on their way here.

“The resumption of right-hand-drive LandCruiser production in Japan in November has seen customer orders start to arrive in Australia, following initial demonstrator-only availability in dealerships to support test drives at launch of the LandCruiser 300 Series in early October,” a spokesperson for Toyota Australia told 4X4 Australia.

“The first retail stock of LandCruiser 300 began arriving in dealerships [last] week and dealers are doing their utmost to get customers into a new LandCruiser as quickly as possible. Our dealers have the latest information to assist customers with expected delivery timing on individual orders.”

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The story to here

December 6: The first 2022 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series has been delivered to a customer in Australia.

Despite worldwide production delays, and some waiting times reported up to 12 months, those who put their orders in early for the new LandCruiser have begun to take delivery of the first batch of vehicles not specifically allocated as Toyota dealership demonstrator models.

“We would like to thank our customers for their understanding. It has been a challenging few months, with COVID-19 causing production stoppages in Japan and elsewhere across the region,” Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales Sean Hanley said at the announcement.

“We are pleased to announce that with Toyota's production in Japan restored to normal levels in December, LandCruisers are now starting to land in Australia ready to be delivered to their new owners,” he said.

“Our dealers have the latest information on customers' individual orders and expected delivery timing, and we thank our customers again for their patience.”

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However, some buyers are reporting being offered vehicles different to the specifications they ordered.

According to one person on Facebook, a Toyota dealership offered them the opportunity to take delivery of a new LandCruiser GR Sport in crystal pearl with a black and red interior, despite ordering an arctic white with black interior.

Another person in the group was told a LandCruiser GX they ordered in late October was already on their way to Australia, due for delivery in late December, while others who placed orders months earlier are still waiting to be contacted by their dealerships.

In October, Toyota announced it would resume full production of the new LandCruiser in November.

October 27: Australian deliveries of the 2022 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series will be delayed, the company’s local arm has confirmed today.

A statement issued by Toyota Australia says it apologises for “any inconvenience caused,” and its dealers will contact customers to provide individual updates on orders already placed.

As reported in August, Toyota has suspended production across 14 of its Japanese factories throughout September, citing a parts supply shortage caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Japanese media is reporting waiting times for the LandCruiser 300 Series are expected to be as long as 12 months after initial order placement.

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According to website Response, the company is considering new ways to deliver the four-wheel-drive to customers earlier than currently anticipated – which could mean reducing production of its other models to help free up semi-conductor chipsets required to build the new, technically-advanced LandCruiser.

All major car manufacturers are currently experiencing a supply shortage of the critical semi-conductor computer chips, forcing carmakers to reduce outputs or halt production lines entirely.

Toyota Australia says it is “continuing to work closely with our global production team to provide the latest information for dealers and to support our customers”.

Despite the delay, Toyota says a limited number of demonstrator vehicles will be available in Australian dealerships for customers who want to experience the latest LandCruiser model.