Toyota's global vehicle production has returned to pre-disaster levels, the company has announced

Toyota's global vehicle production has returned to pre-disaster levels, the Japanese car giant has said.

The March 11 earthquake and tsunami in north-eastern Japan disrupted production at Toyota and other car makers because parts suppliers suffered damage.

The company initially said it did not expect production to return to normal until late this year.

Toyota, which was the world's biggest car maker in annual vehicle sales last year, sank to number 3 in the first half of this year, trailing US rival General Motors and Volkswagen of Germany.

Toyota workers will be picking up overtime and doing extra shifts in the coming months to make up for lost production from the disaster, the maker of the Prius Hybrid and Camry Sedan said.

PA