As expected, the effects of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that have devastated Japan are now being felt in North America. With production suspensions dragging on, Mazda and Honda have been forced to temporarily stop taking orders for vehicles manufactured in Japan, while parts shortages are preventing Chrysler and Ford from offering specific colours of pickups, cars and SUVs.
The Honda models affected include the CR-Z, Civic Hybrid and some CR-Vs. However, the SUV is also built in the US, which should help minimize the impact of the interruption. As for Acura, production of the TSX and RL has been disrupted.
The automaker says it has “sufficient” stock, though, and the decision shouldn’t result in any short-term shortages. It may become a problem should the situation persist.
Mazda’s measures pertain to the Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, MX-5, RX-8, CX-7 and CX-9, and dealers are expected to start feeling the squeeze in May. At the moment, the manufacturer doesn’t know when its points of sale will be able to start taking orders again.
Even certain pigments used in body colours are becoming scarce, forcing Chrysler to restrict orders of red and black models of 10 of its vehicles. Ford is dealing with a similar situation, asking distributors to do the same for the equivalent colours of its pickups, cars and SUVs.
As of March 24, worldwide vehicle output was down by 320,000 units. Because the shortage of parts and various components will undoubtedly worsen over time, several analysts are predicting that production of nearly 600,000 vehicles will be lost by early April.
Sources : Auto Guide, Automotive News, Automotive News
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| Honda CR-Z (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
The Honda models affected include the CR-Z, Civic Hybrid and some CR-Vs. However, the SUV is also built in the US, which should help minimize the impact of the interruption. As for Acura, production of the TSX and RL has been disrupted.
The automaker says it has “sufficient” stock, though, and the decision shouldn’t result in any short-term shortages. It may become a problem should the situation persist.
Mazda’s measures pertain to the Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, MX-5, RX-8, CX-7 and CX-9, and dealers are expected to start feeling the squeeze in May. At the moment, the manufacturer doesn’t know when its points of sale will be able to start taking orders again.
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| Mazda RX-8 (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Even certain pigments used in body colours are becoming scarce, forcing Chrysler to restrict orders of red and black models of 10 of its vehicles. Ford is dealing with a similar situation, asking distributors to do the same for the equivalent colours of its pickups, cars and SUVs.
As of March 24, worldwide vehicle output was down by 320,000 units. Because the shortage of parts and various components will undoubtedly worsen over time, several analysts are predicting that production of nearly 600,000 vehicles will be lost by early April.
Sources : Auto Guide, Automotive News, Automotive News