Toyota Motors has said that its Japanese production fell by 63% in March compared with the same month last year, as its production cuts continued.

丰田汽车公司称，三月份日本工厂的生产量比去年同期降低63%，且其产量将会继续下降。

The company has been facing shortages in supplies of parts as production has been disrupted because of last month's earthquake and tsunami¹.

While it has restarted production in Japan, its factories have been working at a reduced output.

The firm has said output would return to normal only by the end of 2011.

The world's biggest car manufacturer also announced more cuts in production at its factories in Asia.

The automaker said plants in eight Asian countries, including Thailand and India, will operate at 50% capacity from 25 April to 4 June.

It also said that factories in these countries will operate for just three days a week during the period.

The company had already announced that its factories in China will operate at 30-50% of capacity until 3 June.

Meanwhile, another Japanese automaker, Nissan Motors also announced that output at its Japanese plants had slumped² by 52% in March compared with last year.

Uncertain times

Last month's earthquake and tsunami in Japan has caused widespread disruption to the supply chain in the country.

As a result manufacturers, especially car makers³, have been facing increasing shortages of parts.

While the recovery process in Japan has been taking place, the company said it is likely that these cuts could be extended further.

"So far we have announced cuts until 4 June," Paul Nolasco of Toyota told the BBC.

"However, given the current situation it is highly likely that these cuts may be extended into the summer," he added.

The company has already extended cuts at its factories in North America because of similar shortages of components⁴ made in Japan.