TOYOTA kept its annual net profit forecast unchanged today, as the weaker yen offsets supply-chain disruptions that have forced the Japanese car giant to slash production targets.

The world’s top-selling automaker said it now expects to sell half a million fewer vehicles in the current financial year because of the global chip shortage and other problems.

“It is still difficult to predict the future due to risks such as procurement of semiconductors. Therefore, we decided to revise our (full-year production) plan to 9.2 million units,” the company said in a statement.

The weak yen should help inflate revenues, however, and the carmaker now predicts annual sales worth ¥36 trillion (RM1.15 billion), up from the previous forecast of ¥34.5 trillion.

Japanese exporters have reaped the benefits of a cheaper yen, which has lost more than 20% of its value against the dollar this year.

Buoyed by forex rates, Toyota had in August upgraded its full-year net profit forecast to ¥2.36 trillion, which it maintained today.

The company said higher material costs pushed down its profits in North America in the first half, while business in Europe was affected by its decision to pull out of Russia.

Toyota announced in September its decision to end production in Russia, citing supply chain problems. – AFP, November 1, 2022.