TOKYO (AP) -- Toyota Motor Corp. is temporarily suspending production at nearly a dozen factories in central Japan as heavy snow hits the region, paralyzing traffic and delaying delivery of car parts.
Toyota, maker of the popular Prius hybrid, halted Monday's night time production at all but one of its 12 factories in Aichi prefecture (state) amid heavy snowfall in large swathes of central and western Japan.
Company spokeswoman Shiori Hashimoto said production is expected to resume Tuesday and the factories will make up the missed production on a backup day.
Dozens of trains have been delayed in central Japan due to the snow, holding up tens of thousands of commuters. A major expressway was temporarily closed earlier Monday.
