Page 14 - Motoring Summer 2022

REOPENING TOYOTA

TOYOTA SA FACTORY REOPENING

pril 12 2022 was a day of natural
disaster in KZN, with flooding of
Aalmost unimaginable magnitude
causing devastation, damage and loss of
lives. And then the news filtered through
about the Toyota plant being ‘under water’.
I saw all the press releases, the photos
and read about the extent of the damage
caused but nothing prepared me for what
I saw in person at the factory just four
months later.
Although much still has to be done
and many new parts are still awaited,
the sleeping giant has reawakened. It is
almost beyond belief that the factory is
operational again after such a short time.
Every machine has been stripped, cleaned,
repaired and is running again. And the cars
are rolling off the production line.
Yet, the bigger story is the human story
that has taken place behind the scenes.
The Toyota team, or family, as they refer
to themselves, never seemed to despair,
never contemplated giving up and simply
got on with their mammoth task.
Help came from every possible
direction - from Head Office in Japan,
to group companies around the world
and from local suppliers. Whether it
was physical cleaning and mopping up,
repairing of machines or even sourcing of
replacement equipment, everyone was
there.

MOTORING | Summer 2022 | 12