ERLANGER, Ky. -

As the automaker continues to keep tabs on recovering production in its native Japan, Toyota Motor Corp. also had to monitor its interests in the Southeast, where deadly tornadoes carved destructive swaths, especially in Alabama.

The storms forced officials at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama located in Huntsville, Ala., to idle their second shift as tornadoes came through on Wednesday. Because of widespread power outages in the area, Toyota had to halt production at the facility Thursday and planned to do the same again today.

Toyota spokesperson Carri Chandler confirmed in a message sent to Auto Remarketing that the plant sustained minimal damage.

Various state officials confirmed more than 250 deaths caused by the latest tornado outbreak to rip through the Southeast. Alabama’s state emergency management agency reported more than 160 storm-related fatalities.

Toyota isn’t the only automaker with plenty of interests in Alabama.

Mercedes-Benz USA has a manufacturing facility in Vance, Ala., near Tuscaloosa, one of the cities hit the hardest. The automaker uses the plant to make the M-Class, the R-Class and the GL-Class.

Company spokeswoman Felyicia Jerald told the Tuscaloosa News a roof was damaged at one of the plant’s auxiliary buildings, trees fell on employees’ personal vehicles and the plant’s employee fitness center sustained heavy damage.

Other media reports indicated plant officials closed the facility Thursday and planned to do so again today.

Jerald also explained to the Alabama newspaper that this facility uses just-in-time manufacturing, which calls for parts to be delivered as they are needed.

The automaker official indicated some suppliers were without power and were unable to run machinery to make parts. Jerald said she didn’t know if any suppliers had sustained damage to their plants or had problems because of roadways blocked by downed trees.