The Japanese automaker is the first multinational to react to the new crisis, ordering teams to work remotely for safety.
Toyota has ordered its employees in Venezuela to remain at home and work remotely indefinitely. The security measure was announced on Monday (5), hours after reports of the incursion carried out by United States forces in the South American country, which drastically increased political and social tension in the region.
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According to an internal memo seen by Bloomberg , the decision affects both the management team of the Caracas office and operations at the plant located in Cumaná. The Japanese automaker justified the action as preventive, aiming to “guarantee the physical integrity of its employees” in the face of uncertainty about possible civil unrest or government retaliation after the North American operation.
Toyota is one of the few global automakers that still maintains a significant presence in Venezuela, operating in the country for decades. The Cumaná plant, which has historically produced iconic models such as the Corolla and Hilux, has been operating at reduced capacity in recent years due to the economic crisis, recently focusing on assembling imported kits.
The stay-at-home order reflects the private sector’s fear that the U.S. action will trigger a new wave of instability, protests or even the closure of borders and access routes. So far, the automaker has not informed a date for the return to face-to-face activities, stating that it will continue to monitor the security situation day by day.
