At least four Japanese automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp., have said they will have to suspend their production following a recent earthquake that shook the northern part of the country. The tremor, which incidentally killed nine people, caused serious damage at one of Japan's major auto parts suppliers, Riken Corp.
Toyota decided to momentarily put a dozen of its local plants on hold because of supply concerns. Suzuki Motor Corp., Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (which produces Subaru vehicles) will also halt production. Over 10,000 cars and 5,000 motorcycles are said to be lost at Suzuki alone. At Mitsubishi, 1,500 vehicles were reportedly affected. Meanwhile, Honda released a statement saying that the earthquake would also interrupt its manufacturing operations, both for cars and motorcycles.
No one, however, is able to assess the actual, short-term impacts of this cataclysm on the Japanese auto industry. Things are expected to return to normal as soon as next Monday, but no confirmation has been given by Riken Corp. yet.
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| Toyota Kaikan Plant |
Toyota decided to momentarily put a dozen of its local plants on hold because of supply concerns. Suzuki Motor Corp., Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (which produces Subaru vehicles) will also halt production. Over 10,000 cars and 5,000 motorcycles are said to be lost at Suzuki alone. At Mitsubishi, 1,500 vehicles were reportedly affected. Meanwhile, Honda released a statement saying that the earthquake would also interrupt its manufacturing operations, both for cars and motorcycles.
No one, however, is able to assess the actual, short-term impacts of this cataclysm on the Japanese auto industry. Things are expected to return to normal as soon as next Monday, but no confirmation has been given by Riken Corp. yet.