Could exacerbate vehicle stock shortages at dealerships.
The torrential rains that have been battering KwaZulu-Natal have led to Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) suspending production at its manufacturing plant at Prospecton south of Durban because of flooding.
Vehicle dealerships for all vehicle brands have already been experiencing stock issues because of the global semiconductor shortage resulting from a fire at a major semiconductor supplier last year and global supply chain disruptions caused by Covid-19 lockdowns.
The suspension of production by TSAM, if it continues for an extended period, is likely to exacerbate any vehicle stock shortages in Toyota’s dealer network.
The group confirmed on Wednesday that its production plant experienced flooding in areas due to the heavy rains in the province.