Toyota to resume output at SW China plant week after quake

May 17 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp., the world's second-largest automaker, will resume limited production at its plant in southwestern China for the first time in a week after the country's biggest earthquake in 58 years.

The company will cancel one of two daily shifts between May 19 and May 24 at its plant in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, spokeswoman Hiromi Hirooka said by telephone last night. Toyota lost production of 380 vehicles as of yesterday.

"Our primary concern is the health condition of workers at our factory and suppliers," Hirooka said.

The death toll from the magnitude 7.9 earthquake on May 12 climbed past 22,000 and may reach 50,000 with 169,000 injured, Xinhua news agency reported.

Toyota's plant, which can build 13,000 vehicles a year, makes the Coaster bus and Prado sport- utility vehicle, according to the Toyota City, Japan-based automaker.