Crisis in Japan
The latest news and updates concerning the effects of the earthquake/tsunami crisis in Japan on the automotive sector
JAPAN: Car industry boost to earthquake region
27 March 2012
Both Nissan and Toyota have said they will get production in the Tohuku region back to something like normal this year following last year’s devastating tsunami and earthquake, the Nikkei reported.
JAPAN: Toyota widens support for earthquake region
19 July 2011
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has announced more support for the recovery of Japan’s Tohoku region in the north east which was hardest hit by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.
JAPAN: Suzuki moving facilities to higher ground
11 July 2011
Suzuki Motor is to spend about JPY50bn (US$620m) relocating some domestic development and production facilities to new locations in Japan for protection against big earthquakes and tsunamis.
BELGIUM: Toyota ups H1 sales 4.6% despite 'quake
11 July 2011
Toyota Motor Europe said it increased Europe sales by 18,671 units (4.6%) to 425,639 in the first half of 2011, catching up after supplies were affected by the March earthquake in Japan.
JAPAN: Toyota 'normalising' a month early
6 July 2011
Toyota plans to fully normalise its production by October, one month ahead of its initial schedule, due to the recovery of its procurement network which was damaged by the 11 March quake-tsunami disaster, company officials said on Wednesday.
NEW ZEALAND: Earthquake stock shortage still biting
6 July 2011
The New Zealand new passenger car market is still impacted by shortages of stock following the 11 March Japanese earthquake and tsunami, a trade group said on Wednesday.
AUSTRALIA: Earthquake slows June sales
5 July 2011
Supply constraints held Australian June motor vehicle sales down to their lowest level in eight years, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
JAPAN: Automakers start weekend energy-saving work
5 July 2011
Toyota began its weekend operation of factories on Sunday as part of energy-saving efforts in the wake of the suspension in May of a nuclear power plant that serves central Japan.
JAPAN: Electricity consumption squeeze affects automakers
1 July 2011
The Japanese government started restricting electricity consumption by large-lot users in eastern Japan from Friday morning in a bid to avert power shortages in the aftermath of the 11 March earthquake/tsunami that damaged power plants including the crisis-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, government officials said.
JAPAN: Nissan eyes 10% July output boost
30 June 2011
Nissan Motor is targeting an increase in July domestic production to 102,000 units, almost 10% more than an initial plan set prior to the 11 March earthquake and tsunami, in a move to catch up on the drop in output in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, industry sources said.
JAPAN: Vehicle output in May falls 30.9%
30 June 2011
Japan's vehicle output in May fell 30.9% year on year to 489,723 units for the eighth consecutive monthly decline, an industry body said on Thursday, as parts supply shortages lingered following the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.
JAPAN: Mazda plants back to normal, projects 2011/12 fiscal results
30 June 2011
Mazda Motor Corporation assembly plants in Japan are back to normal operational levels, including overtime and holiday shifts, the company said as it predicted it would be able to achieve a domestic production volume of 900,000 units during the current fiscal year ending 31 March, 2012.
JAPAN: Nissan eyes post-'quake common parts
29 June 2011
Nissan Motor president has said the automaker will actively promote the use of common parts with alliance partner Renault and other automakers following disruption to supply chains in the wake of the 11 March earthquake/tsunami.
JAPAN: Domestic output slide slows
28 June 2011
Japan's major automakers' domestic vehicle output in May fell at a slower rate year on year than in April with two even enjoying an increase as they continued to restore production capacity following the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.
BRAZIL: Honda, new Civic launch, hit by parts shortage
27 June 2011
Among Japanese automakers with Brazilian factories, Honda has, by far, been the most affected by the 11 March earthquake/tsunami in Japan.
JAPAN: Toyota, too, may break electricity use deal
24 June 2011
Following Honda and Nissan Motor moves earlier, Toyota Motor is considering operating a factory on the Japanese auto industry's designated holidays, joining other leading automakers in exempting itself from a non-binding agreement to stop plants on Thursdays and Fridays during summer to save electricity, company officials said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Automaker recovery better then expected
23 June 2011
Automakers in Japan are rapidly recovering from the massive earthquake and tsunami on 11 March with Nissan Motor and Suzuki Motor expecting to set new record highs for global vehicle sales in fiscal 2011, according to consolidated business forecasts released by six major carmakers by Thursday.
MALAYSIA: Sales off 9.4% in May
23 June 2011
New vehicle sales in Malaysia fell by 9.4% to 46,045 units in May, from 50,845 units a year earlier, according to data released by the Malaysian Automotive Association.
JAPAN: JAMA mulls common parts move post earthquake
22 June 2011
Greater use of common parts among suppliers is being mooted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) following the country's massive earthquake in March.
INDONESIA: Indonesia sales flat in May on weaker output
21 June 2011
As in Thailand, growth in Indonesia’s new vehicle market came to a halt in May, as key vehicle manufacturers struggled to maintain production levels due to shortages of components from Japan.
JAPAN: Carmakers to ignore voluntary agreement on electricity savings
21 June 2011
Japanese carmakers are considering operating some plants on Thursdays and Fridays if production falls short of demand despite an industry-wide plan to close factories on those days instead of Saturdays and Sundays from July.
THAILAND: Low stocks drive sales down 10% in May
20 June 2011
Thai vehicle sales fell by 10.2% to 55,851 units in May, from 62,205 units a year earlier, according to data released by Toyota Motor Thailand.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Shortage adds to slowing Australia sales
3 June 2011
Weaker new vehicle sales in Australia in May were compounded by the impact of the Japanese earthquake/tsunami on the availability of some models and components, the local automakers' group said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota Australia boosting dealer stock
3 June 2011
Toyota Australia dealers will have substantially more new vehicle stock arriving in June and a further increase in July, the company said on Friday.
US MAY SALES: Detroit cleans up after Japanese 'quake
2 June 2011
If someone back in early 2011 had predicted May’s US light vehicle sales, they would have been laughed out of the business. The Detroit automakers taking the three top spots? Nonsense! The best-selling car is a Chevrolet? Unthinkable! Chrysler outselling Toyota? Delusional!
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Ford economist reckons 400,000 unit US loss
2 June 2011
The 11 March earthquake/tsunami in north east Japan reduced US automotive supply by about 400,000 new cars and trucks during the second quarter leading to shortages at dealers.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Struggling suppliers to benefit from US$620m aid fund
2 June 2011
Japan's Development Bank (DBJ) has confirmed a potential investment of up to JYP50bn (US$618m) for the country's automotive suppliers, although it appears this is initially an intention and not yet concrete.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: May sales off 38%
1 June 2011
New vehicle sales in Japan, excluding minivehicles, fell 37.8% year on year in May to 142,154 units, declining for the ninth consecutive month, after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan disrupted production.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Now Toyota says Japan output to be 90% in June
1 June 2011
After denying it last week, Toyota said on Wednesday its domestic output would return to about 90% of pre-quake levels in June thanks to faster than expected recovery of parts supplies.
JAPAN: Development Bank to unveil support fund for suppliers 2 June
1 June 2011
Japan's Auto Parts Industry Association (JAPIA) will tomorrow (2 June) reveal details of a fund designed to assist suppliers following the country's devastating earthquake.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: April vehicle output nosedives
31 May 2011
Japanese vehicle output in April plunged 60.1% year on year to 292,001 units, a record monthly fall following the 11 March earthquake/tsunami in northeastern Japan.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Government funding to help parts makers
31 May 2011
Government backed help for earthquake-hit Japanese auto industry suppliers is on the way, according to media reports.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Mazda moves the weekend
31 May 2011
Mazda is effectively moving its factory weekends to Thursday and Friday from 1 July to 30 September to reduce week day electricity consumption in the aftermath of the 11 March earthquake/tsunami which disrupted nuclear electricity generation.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Output and sales hit at Japan eight
27 May 2011
Total Japanese output at the eight major automakers last plunged 60.1% year on year as the 11 March earthquake/tsunami forced them to suspend production.
US: Tough May for Japanese OEMs in US
27 May 2011
Despite an expected loss of share that boosted the Detroit 3 and Koreans in May, analysts at Edmunds.com believe that the worst may be over for the Japanese OEMs recovering from the post-'quake supply-chain disruption of recent months.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota denies back to 90% in June
24 May 2011
Toyota Motor has denied media reports earlier on Tuesday its vehicle production in Japan would recover to 90% of pre-quake levels in June, higher than the 70% it had suggested on May 11.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Honda launching delayed Fit Shuttle on 16 June
23 May 2011
Honda plans to launch its postponed Fit Shuttle, a wagon-like variant of the Fit/Jazz hatchback on 16 June, offering it, like the Fit, in both regular and hybrid versions, Japanese media reported.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Nissan global output normal in June - report
23 May 2011
Nissan Motor is expected to restore its global output in June to the level it planned before the 11 March earthquake and tsunami given the good prospects for procuring components, industry sources have said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Auto industry and government talk power saving
19 May 2011
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said on Thursday its members would close their plants in Japan on Thursdays and Fridays and open Saturdays and Sundays from July to the end of September this year to reduce weekday electricity consumption.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota Malaysia unit returning to normal 23 May
19 May 2011
Malaysian assembler and distributor UMW Toyota Motor said on Thursday that parts supply, disrupted following the massive 11 March earthquake and tsunami in Japan, has recovered and it would resume its regular two-shift operation from 23 May.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: European carmakers may rethink supplier strategy after disaster
19 May 2011
The 11 March earthquake and tsunami in Japan could prompt European carmakers to insist on suppliers being closer to them, the chief of Europe's automobile association said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Nissan and Honda recovery picks up
17 May 2011
Nissan Motor and Honda are trying to accelerate their efforts to resume full production after the country's biggest earthquake on record and consequent parts supply problems.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota's European production back to 100% in June
17 May 2011
Toyota Motor Europe says European production will return to pre-earthquake levels next month following resolution of parts manufacture difficulties with Japanese suppliers.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Nissan engine plant 'restored'
17 May 2011
Nissan Motor said on Tuesday its engine plant in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, has been fully restored after being damaged by the 11 March earthquake.
JAPAN: Toyota delays Prius Alpha launch
17 May 2011
Toyota has said it expects delivery of its new Prius Alpha model in Japan to be delayed due to the impact of the 11 March earthquake but the automaker's US unit said the Prius v is still on target for a autumn launch there.
US: Japanese earthquake prompts supply location rethink: analysts
13 May 2011
Japan's catastrophic earthquake has prompted business analysts to urge manufacturers rethink production location strategy.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Carmakers rearrange production schedules
13 May 2011
Japanese carmakers will run their factories at weekends from July to September and halt them Thursdays and Fridays to counter an expected power shortages.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Nissan back to normal globally in October
12 May 2011
Nissan Motor will return to normal production levels globally in October, after Japan's 11 March devastating earthquake and tsunami disrupted supply chains and forced factory stoppages, chief executive Carlos Ghosn said on Thursday.
ANALYSIS: "No perfect answer": BBK runs supplier rule over Japan earthquake
11 May 2011
International Business Advisory Firm BBK has run the rule over the fall-out from the recent catastrophic events in Japan and their effects on the supply chain.
JAPAN: Toyota sees output recovery from June, earlier than planned
11 May 2011
With Toyota Motor's quarterly profits hit harder than expected, as a result of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami in Japan, there have been renewed calls for the government to do more to support the automaker's pledge to keep building large numbers of cars at home.
ANALYSIS: OESA cites "unprecedented" effects of earthquake to supply chain
11 May 2011
The impact of Japan's catastrophic earthquake and tsunami two months ago continues to reverberate well beyond the country's borders as the ripple effect of supply chain challenges continue to make themselves felt.
AUSTRALIA: Toyota plant back to normal early June
11 May 2011
Vehicle production at Toyota Australia's Altona (Victoria state) manufacturing plant will return to normal levels during the week commencing 6 June 2011, the automaker said on Wednesday (11 May 2011).
TOYOTA FULL YEAR: Other markets offset Japan gloom
11 May 2011
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) boosted operating profit for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2011 from JPY147.5bn to JPY468.2bn and net profit from JPY209.4bn to JPY408.1bn, on sales up just 0.2% to JPY18.993 trillion.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota output recovery still seen taking to year end
10 May 2011
Toyota Motor on Tuesday (10 May, 2011) denied a report its output would return to pre-quake levels two or three months earlier than expected but said it would try to resume normal production as soon as possible.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Philippines sales drop 4.5% in April
10 May 2011
Vehicle sales in the Philippines fell by 4.5% to 11,816 units in April, from 12,374 units a year earlier, according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers in the Philippines (CAMPI).
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Lower Q2 output in Indonesia, Malaysia
9 May 2011
PT Astra International, Indonesia’s largest car distributor, expects production at its affiliated vehicle assembly plants to drop by 15% in the second quarter of 2011 as a result of parts shortages resulting from Japan’s earthquake in March.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota China April sales slow 23.5%
6 May 2011
New vehicles sales by Toyota in China tumbled 23.5% year on year to 48,700 units in April as it faced difficulty procuring parts from Japan for assembling cars in the wake of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami, its local subsidiary said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Perodua confident of 2011 sales target
4 May 2011
Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua, which produces Perodua brand compact cars in a joint venture with Toyota's minicar unit Daihatsu Motor, is confident of achieving this year's sales target despite the parts supply disruption due to the 11 March earthquake/tsunami in Japan.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Honda India slowdown likely for three months
4 May 2011
Honda said its decision to reduce car production in India by 50% from this month is likely to continue for the next three months due to parts supply constraints after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Honda lines to remain on reduced production
4 May 2011
Honda production in the US will continue to run at half pace through the summer because of the shortage of parts from Japan in the wake of the March earthquake and tsunami.
JAPAN: Earthquake costs Mazda huge net loss
28 April 2011
Mazda Motor has said it incurred a consolidated net loss of JPY60.04bn in fiscal 2010 ended 31 March due to damage from the 11 March earthquake and tsunami and other factors.
JAPAN: Earthquake hits Honda's Q4 result
28 April 2011
Honda Motor sales and profits dipped in the fourth fiscal quarter ended 31 March as the effects of the Sendai region earthquake began to bite.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Honda brings forward plant winter break
27 April 2011
Honda has said it will close a plant in Brazil earlier than scheduled because of a possible parts shortage resulting from Japan's earthquake and tsunami.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Some Daihatsu twin shifts back in May
27 April 2011
Toyota Motor small car unit Daihatsu Motor will start two shift vehicle production at its Shiga plant and at Daihatsu Kyushu Oita Plant (Plant 1, Plant 2) from 6 May.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Ford idles plants
26 April 2011
Ford has idled some assembly plants as it works to conserve parts following last month's earthquake in Japan which disrupted the production and delivery of components.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota slows South America output
26 April 2011
Toyota is shutting an assembly plant in Brazil for three days over the next four weeks, cutting production by about 1,200 cars, because of a shortage of parts due to the Japanese earthquake.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Honda normal production by year's end
26 April 2011
Honda Motor expects domestic vehicle plants to return to production levels planned before the 11 March earthquake by the end of the year.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota Vietnam cuts to 70%
26 April 2011
Toyota Motor Vietnam is cutting production by 70% to 3 June due to a shortage of components following the earthquake in Japan last month, the company said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Nissan expects 90% of pre-quake output in May
26 April 2011
Nissan Motor expects to reach about 90% of domestic output it expected before the 11 March earthquake damaged its production bases, company officials said on Tuesday.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Thai auto output cut by 50%
26 April 2011
Thailand’s vehicle manufacturers announced further production cutbacks as the size of the rebuilding task in Japan in the wake last month’s devastating earthquake and tsunami becomes clearer.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: March output plunge as much as 65%
26 April 2011
Toyota and Honda have said their March outputs in Japan plunged some 63% year on year to record monthly lows as the earthquake and tsunami disrupted production operations.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota back to normal 'by November'
26 April 2011
Toyota's production will not return to normal until the end of the year following last month's earthquake and tsunami in eastern Japan.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota UK plant on short time through May
21 April 2011
Having said last week there would be "reduced work schedules" in May, Toyota's UK plant has now firmed up its plans: parts shortages from Japan mean only three days of half-shift working a week.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: More Toyota cuts in North America and China
20 April 2011
Toyota has announced further production cuts in both North America and in China until at least 3 June. It again cited parts shortages as a result of the 11 March earthquake/tsunami in Japan.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Mitsubishi plants resume at 90%
19 April 2011
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation said it resumed "continuous production" on Monday (18 April), joining other automakers such as Nissan and Toyota though, like them, it is not at full planned rate.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Delivery drivers fret over exclusion zone
18 April 2011
In the Tohoku, or northeast, region of Japan hit by the triple disasters of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident, auto manufacturers and their suppliers are working to get production back towards full capacity just-auto has been told.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: PSA Spain output hit but GM "unaffected"
18 April 2011
Last month's earthquake in Japan affected production at PSA-Peugeot Citroen's Vigo factory where approximately 6,000 cars were 'lost', according to union officials. However, at rival GM, all is proceeding well, they added.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Isuzu suspends output in Philippines, denies take-over
18 April 2011
Truck and diesel engine specialist Isuzu Motors is the latest Japanese automaker to suspend production, at its Philippine subsidiary, due to parts shortages.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: US March SAAR seen as low as 13.3m
15 April 2011
Edmunds.com is predicting an April SAAR in the range of 13.3m to 14.1m and a possible 700,000-unit hit to the full-year tally if earthquake-related Japanese supply problems last through the summer.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: MMC running all plants early next week
15 April 2011
Mitsubishi Motor suspended production at its Okazaki and Mizushima plants in Japan on Friday but operated at Pajero Manufacturing Company (PMC).
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota on half-rate till early June
15 April 2011
Toyota Motor Corporation on Friday said vehicle production in Japan from 10 May to 3 June would be at about half the usual rate.
JAPAN: Fuji Heavy suspends US Subaru, Toyota production
14 April 2011
Subaru maker Fuji Heavy Industries will suspend operations at its US assembly plant on 15, 18 and 25 April due to parts shortages following the 11 March earthquake and tsunami in Japan, company officials said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Parts shortages causes Philippines plant closures
14 April 2011
Ford has shut down its operations in the Philippines for one month because a shortage of parts caused by the earthquake disaster in Japan.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota Australia halving output
14 April 2011
Toyota Australia is to "adjust" vehicle production at its Altona manufacturing plant in Victoria "to manage available parts supply following last month's Japan earthquake and tsunami".
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Honda, Ford, to suspend production in Asia
13 April 2011
Honda Automobile (Thailand) said it would temporarily halt production at its Thai assembly plants from 18 April in response to parts supply shortages in Japan.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota to suspend production at five European plants as supply woes bite
13 April 2011
Toyota Motor Europe says production at five European plants will be stopped for several days in late April / early May and will run at a reduced volume next month to manage available parts supply, following the Japanese earthquake.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Car plants resuming but at half-speed
8 April 2011
Toyota and Nissan Motor on Friday said they would resume production at all domestic plants in mid-April in the aftermath of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern and eastern Japan.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Chrysler reins in overtime
7 April 2011
Chrysler Group has said it will curtail overtime at some of its assembly plants.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Honda UK plant halving output
6 April 2011
Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) will halve its weekly production volume from 11 April due to a shortage of parts from Japan.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: MMC operating only Okazaki Thursday and Friday
6 April 2011
Mitsubishi Motors suspended production at its Okazaki and Mizushima plants on Wednesday but Pajero Manufacturing Company (PMC) operated.
JAPAN' QUAKE: Toyota reviving old Central Motor plant
6 April 2011
Toyota will resume vehicle production at Central Motor's Sagamihara plant in Kanagawa Prefecture on 11 April, reversing a pre-earthquake plan to transfer output to Central Motor's brand-new Miyagi plant in Miyagi Prefecture, an area close to the 11 March 'quake and tsunami. The plant, opened in January, suffered some damage.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Mitsubishi plans plant suspensions this week
5 April 2011
Mitsubishi Motor operated its three plants in Japan - Okazaki, Mizushima and Pajero Manufacturing Company (PMC) on Monday (4 April) but suspended Mizushima and operated only the first shift at Okazaki on Tuesday.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota likely to pause NA vehicle making this month
5 April 2011
Toyota Motor is highly likely to halt all manufacturing operations at its factories in North America later this month due to parts supply disruptions caused by the 11 March earthquake disaster in Japan, company officials have said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Honda restarts production in Japan
4 April 2011
Honda Motor has restarted production of component parts in Japan affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Nissan April output 40% of norm
4 April 2011
Nissan Motor is anticipating that its output in April will be just over 30,000 units in Japan, about 40% of the 80,000-plus units it had planned to produce before the devastating 11 March earthquake, sources said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Nissan Americas brings forward non-production days
4 April 2011
Nissan Americas is redoing its April production schedule to pull ahead previously planned non-production days from later in the second and third quarters to this month.
'QUAKE UPDATE: Mitsubishi plants to run on Monday
1 April 2011
Mitsubishi Motors operated all three plants - Okazaki, Mizushima and Pajero Manufacturing Company (PMC) on Friday (1 April).
'QUAKE UPDATE: All Honda plants back on 11 April, Nissan close
31 March 2011
Honda said on Thursday (31 March) it would resume production of finished automobiles at its Sayama and Suzuka factories on Monday, 11 April. All production plants in Japan will be in operation as of that date.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Renault-Samsung cutting output 20%
31 March 2011
South Korean Renault unit Renault Samsung has said Wednesday it would cut output by about 20% next month due to a shortage of parts from quake-hit Japan.
FRANCE: PSA Europe production back to normal after earthquake
31 March 2011
PSA Peugeot-Citroen says its European production is returning to normal today (31 March) following supply chain disruption in Japan.
JAPAN 'QUAKE [12:03BST]: One MMC plant suspended Wednesday, Honda slows in US, Canada, Nissan loses 55,000 units
30 March 2011
Mitsubishi Motors said all three of its Japanese vehicle assembly plants -Okazaki, Mizushima and Pajero Manufacturing Company (PMC) operated on Monday (28 March) and Tuesday (29 March) but production at PMC was suspended today (30 March).
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Dongfeng Nissan denies production halt
30 March 2011
Dongfeng Nissan on Tuesday denied media allegations that its Xiangfan plant had been forced to halt production, the Beijing News reported, according to Gasgoo.com.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: ASEAN affected by parts supply disruptions
30 March 2011
Thailand’s automotive industry expects to resume normal production after the Thai New Year holidays on 18 April, after overtime was suspended at many vehicle assembly plants in the country in the immediate aftermath of Japan’s devastating earthquakes and tsunamis.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Toyota warns US dealers of spare parts shortage
29 March 2011
Toyota has warned US dealers it faces a shortage of some replacement parts made in Japan but used worldwide for repairs and maintenance work, according to a person briefed by the company.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Full output will take time - automakers
29 March 2011
Japanese automakers said on Tuesday it would be some time before they could return to full production after Japan's devastating 11 March earthquake and tsunami disrupted supplies to their plants.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: PSA output returning to normal
28 March 2011
PSA Peugeot Citroen "expects to see a gradual return to normal conditions, beginning Thursday, 31 March," after disruptions announced last week in some of its production in Europe, caused by difficulties in deliveries of electronic components from Japan, the group said on Monday afternoon (28 March).
'QUAKE UPDATE [16:25GMT]: Mitsubishi running three plants for two days
28 March 2011
Mitsubishi Motors operated all three plants in Japan - Okazaki, Mizushima and Pajero Manufacturing Company (PMC) on Monday 28 March and all three will run again on Tuesday.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Paint pigment paucity poses problem
28 March 2011
A shortage of a type of shiny pigment used in automobile paints and made only in a single plant in Japan has emerged as the newest headache for the auto industry.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Europeans soon to be affected - reports
28 March 2011
Volkswagen, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Ford and other European automakers may be forced to halt production in coming weeks as component suppliers in earthquake-ravaged Japan struggle to restart factories, weekend media reports said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Honda may delay Q4 announcement
28 March 2011
Honda Motor has said it was considering delaying its earnings announcement as the company deals with damage control and production suspensions caused by the earthquake off Japan's eastern coast this month.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: The 'quake big picture emerges
25 March 2011
As you might have noticed, we have been focused on the after-effects of the Japan 'quake this week. So we apologise to the reader who wrote in today griping about the fact we had overlooked to cover the self-darkening roof due to hit the public on a new Mercedes tomorrow...
JAPAN 'QUAKE [16:05GMT]: Honda postpones car production, Nissan US eyes engines for Japan
24 March 2011
Honda, which had previously announced the suspension of production through Sunday 27 March, on Thursday (24 March) said it would now extend the production suspension of finished vehicles at its Sayama and Suzuka factories until at least Monday 4 April. Toyota plans to resume hybrid production on Monday but its US unit cautioned that "some production interruptions in North America are likely" though it was too early to predict location or duration. Nissan Americas said car supply and production were good for now and may send US-made V6 engines to Japan.
ANALYSIS: 'Quake stoppages in third week, global supply chain worries
24 March 2011
Most Japanese automakers have extended their vehicle production stoppages into a third week after the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit north-eastern Japan on 11 March. The delay in resumption of component supplies is also affecting the global supply chain, hitting non-Japanese automakers' production schedules, IHS Global Insight automotive analyst Paul Newton wrote in a research note on Thursday (24 March).
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Key components supply-chain disruption to worsen – IHS Automotive
24 March 2011
The global automotive industry needs to brace for worsening supply-chain disruption according to IHS Automotive.
JAPAN 'QUAKE [updated 17:05GMT]: Supply disruption delays new Toyota hybrids
23 March 2011
Supply chain disruptions in Japan have forced at least one global automaker to delay the launch of two new models and are forcing other industries to shutter plants and rethink their logistical infrastructure, a media report on Wednesday said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: VW Group companies donating EUR2.5m
23 March 2011
Volkswagen group companies are to donate EUR1.5m in aid for victims of the Japan earthquake/tsunami via organisations such as the German Red Cross.
CHINA: Toyota, Honda south China JVs have enough parts till mid-April
23 March 2011
Toyota and Honda car production joint ventures in southern China have enough parts inventory to sustain normal production until the middle of next month, a senior Chinese executive has said.
JAPAN QUAKE UPDATES [17:33GMT]: Nuclear crisis far from over, automakers again postpone production
22 March 2011
Japan's nuclear crisis appeared far from over as Reuters reported rising temperatures around the core of one of the reactors at Japan's quake-crippled Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture had sparked new concern on Tuesday and more water was needed to cool it down, suggesting the battle to avert a disastrous meltdown and stop the spread of radiation was far from won. Meanwhile, Toyota and Honda again postponed vehicle production restarts to Sunday (27 March), Mitsubishi is uncertain beyond Friday (25 March) and consultants Frost & Sullivan described the effect on the global auto industry as "profound".
JAPAN 'QUAKE [updated 12:32GMT]: Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi extend production suspensions
22 March 2011
Post-earthquake/tsunami effects on automakers and OEM suppliers continued in Japan on Tuesday with Toyota and Honda extending their production suspensions until at least Sunday, and Mitsubishi uncertain beyond 25 March while OEM infotainment supplier Sony, which has five suspended or output-restricted factories, reportedly is considering shifting some production overseas.
'QUAKE ANALYSIS: Japan losing 335k units, all OEMs affected end April
22 March 2011
Japan light vehicle output is expected to be reduced by about 335,000 units to the end of this week (25 March, 2011), and virtually every major OEM globally will be affected by the earthquake/tsunami disaster by mid-to-late April, IHS Automotive director of global automotive forecast, Michael Robinet, said in a note emailed to media on Tuesday.
JAPAN: JAMA takes "all measures required" as nuclear fears grow
22 March 2011
Continuing nuclear contamination fears are prompting Japanese automakers to "take all measures required," although nothing concrete has yet been established.
JAPAN: Denso resumes partial Japanese production
22 March 2011
Denso International America says production has partly restarted in Japan following the earthquake and has accounted safely for four missing employees.
COMMENT: Japan battles on as shakes continue
22 March 2011
Japan's stoicism in the face of successive and unimaginable challenges continues to remain mightily impressive and it might need to remain so, with some reports indicating it could take up to five years to repair the colossal damage wreaked on the country.
JAPAN 'QUAKE UPDATES [17:42GMT]: Reports of "serious" food radiation, Nissan Motor checking cars
21 March 2011
As if they didn't have enough to do following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in the north-east, authorities in Japan now have food radiation to deal with. The radiation leak has prompted Nissan Motor to monitor "vehicles made in Japan for any traces of radioactive material".
ANALYSIS: Japan crisis raising US supply questions - IHS
21 March 2011
Average prices for some Japanese cars are already inching up in the United States as question marks are raised over supply, IHS Automotive analyst Aaron Bragman said in a research note on Monday.
JAPAN 'QUAKE [updated 17:25GMT]: GM mulls earthquake effects
21 March 2011
General Motors has halted all non-essential spending and travel while it gets a better idea of the potential impact of Japan's crisis on the company, the automaker has said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Nissan and OEM supplier Sony restarting factories
21 March 2011
Consumer electronics and auto OEM supplier Sony and Nissan Motor are restarting some Japanese factories but computer chip maker Toshiba is still out of action, a media report on Monday said, noting that electric power outages continue to pose risks to production.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: GM Korea cuts output 10%
21 March 2011
General Motors Korea on Monday said it would reduce production this week by up to 10% because of a possible lack of parts from Japan following the earthquake.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Honda denies US May orders suspension
21 March 2011
Honda's US unit has denied widespread media reports last week that it was suspending dealer orders for Japanese made cars for May arrival.
JAPAN 'QUAKE UPDATES [17:31GMT]: Crippled nuclear plant may be buried
18 March 2011
Reuters reported that Japanese engineers conceded on Friday that burying a crippled nuclear plant in sand and concrete may be a last resort to prevent a catastrophic radiation release, the method used to seal huge leakages from Chernobyl in 1986. Meanwhile, Mazda said it would restart "temporary production" on Monday and we've analysed why the yen went up.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Mitsubishi assembly stopping for three days
18 March 2011
Mitsubishi Motor Corporation's three car assembly factories in Japan will suspend production tomorrow (19 March) for the first time since the 15th though the automaker said production of parts and knocked-down assembly kits will continue as normal.
GERMANY: Opel looking at Japanese supply issues on "day-to-day" basis
18 March 2011
Opel has set up a task force to evaluate potential supply issues for its European operations as the effects of the Japanese earthquake continue to be felt.
INDIA: Toyota unit not expecting much earthquake effect on expansion
18 March 2011
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), Toyota's importer, assembler and distributor in India, does not expect to be greatly affected by the recent earthquake/tsunami in Japan because most parts come from Thailand and Indonesia.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: BorgWarner donates $100,000
18 March 2011
Global powertrain supplier BorgWarner on Friday said it would donate US$100,000 to the Red Cross toward disaster relief for the survivors of the recent earthquake and tsunami disasters in Japan. The company also would match all donations from its employees around the world.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Mazda resuming production on 22 March
18 March 2011
Mazda Motor Corporation said on Friday (18 March) it would resume "temporary production" at its Hiroshima and Hofu plants from 22 March, "producing replacement parts, parts for overseas production and vehicles utilising 'in-process' inventories".
ANALYSIS: Why the yen jump?
18 March 2011
After the devastation wrought by what is now officially known as the 'Great Tohoku Kanto Earthquake', Japan's currency rose in value. It's the last thing Japan's under-pressure economy needs – the high yen has been a serious bugbear for Japanese multi-nationals for some time. It seems a little counter-intuitive for the currency to be rising in value at this time, given the hit the Japanese economy will be taking. Share prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange duly tumbled, so what's going on with the currency, asks Dave Leggett.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Bosch updates on its locations in Japan
18 March 2011
Bosch says it has scaled back production at its locations in Japan for the time being.
JAPAN 'QUAKE UPDATES [17:25GMT]: Nuclear plant worries as some MMC production resumes
17 March 2011
Though Japanese military helicopters have been dumping water on an overheating nuclear plant on Thursday, the United States has expressed growing alarm about leaking radiation and said it was sending aircraft to help Americans leave the country, and there are increasingly gloomy predictions of the longer-term effects of the 'quake on Japanese automakers' operations overseas, at least Mitsubishi plans to build cars in three plants on day shift Friday.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Yen's rise threatens export profits
17 March 2011
Toyota and other vehicle exporters face a fresh threat to profits after the yen surged to a record high in the wake of last week's earthquake that has also left many factories idle due to component shortages, a news agency report said.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Nissan Europe donating $1m; Europe output OK for now
17 March 2011
Nissan Europe said it would donate US$1m in cash and in-kind contributions to support earthquake relief efforts in Japan and that all manufacturing plants in Europe remain in operation for now - though the mid-term impact remained unclear on Thursday afternoon.
JAPAN 'QUAKE: Nissan chief sees "pretty minimal" impact overseas
17 March 2011
Nissan Motor sees little impact on overseas production from the disaster in Japan, and has enough parts in stock at European plants to run for about six weeks, a senior executive has said.
FRANCE: Renault and employees help Japanese earthquake victims
17 March 2011
Renault on Thursday said it had launched an emergency campaign to aid those hit by the disaster in Japan.
JAPAN: Automakers pour $18m into relief as confusion reigns
17 March 2011
Japanese automakers' relief efforts to help victims of the country's massive Great Tohoku Kanto Earthquake as some are now referring to it, have topped nearly US$18m.
JAPAN: Mitsubishi plans three day shifts for Friday, EVS for quake zone
17 March 2011
Mitsubishi Motors plans to run its three car factories in Japan on day shift only on Friday, 18 March and will supply Triton pickup trucks and i-MiEV to help earthquake relief efforts.
US: Inventory should see Nissan Americas through
16 March 2011
All Nissan Americas employees in Japan are accounted for following the earthquake and tsunami and the unit does not expect any "near-term impact on sales or vehicle availability", it said in a status update statement on Wednesday (16 April).
US: Auto industry faces greatest risk of Japan quake disruption - report
16 March 2011
The automobile industry is the largest US importer of goods shipped via container transport from Japan, giving auto manufacturing and support businesses the greatest threat of disruption as Japan's industrial output struggles following the devastating earthquake and tsunami, according to data and analysis from The Journal of Commerce/PIERS.
JAPAN: ACG donates to earthquake relief
16 March 2011
AGC has announced that it will donate 300 million yen to help recovery efforts in communities affected by the earthquake and tsunamis that hit Northern Japan in March.
US/JAPAN: Johnson Controls announces donation to Japanese Red Cross
16 March 2011
Johnson Controls, a global diversified company in the building and automotive industries, today announced that it is donating $1 million, or nearly 100 million yen, to the Japan Red Cross through the American Red Cross for disaster relief efforts currently underway in Japan.
JAPAN: Nissan Leaf shipment to US got a break
16 March 2011
News has emerged that a 600-car shipment of Nissan Leafs was able to get out of Japan on Thursday March 10, a day before the disaster struck.
JAPAN: Toyota to lose 95,000 units as plants shut until 22 March "at least"
16 March 2011
Toyota says it will continue to stop vehicle production until 22 March at least leading to the loss of 95,000 units as the impact of Japan's colossal earthquake continues to affect the country.
'20 'unforgettable' tsunami pictures
16 March 2011
National Geographic's photo editors have chosen their 20 'unforgettable' earthquake photos.
JAPAN: Mitsubishi Motors donates JPY30m for earthquake aid
16 March 2011
Mitsubishi Motors has donated JPY30m (US$367m) "for earthquake victims" in Japan.
JAPAN: Denso stops production, checks for missing staff
15 March 2011
Automotive parts manufacturer Denso says it has "basically suspended" production in Japan for today (15 March) and tomorrow, adding four of its employees were still unaccounted for.
JAPAN CRISIS: Energy conservation, it all helps
15 March 2011
We're hearing more about energy conservation measures in Japan now, in response to the power generation shortfall caused by nuclear reactor problems.
JAPAN: Industry faces acute component/power problems: IHS Automotive
15 March 2011
IHS Automotive analyst Paul Newton has offered his take on the fast-moving situation that has seen component and power supply shortages across Japan as the effects of last week's earthquake continue to be felt.
JAPAN: Toyota output loss 'could be 40,000 vehicles' - report
15 March 2011
Toyota may lose output of at least 40,000 vehicles following the devastation in northern Japan and subsequent disruption to production.
JAPAN: Honda takes stock, suspends some Japan production
15 March 2011
Honda says it has suspended production at several plants as it assesses the situation following last week's massive earthquake.
UK: Honda mulls supply chain "counter-measures" after earthquake
15 March 2011
Honda is evaluating a series of "counter-measures" should supply chain issues start to impact on UK delivery following last week's earthquake and tsunami.
JAPAN: Nissan supply network devastation to continue disrupting output: report
15 March 2011
Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn has said devastation to its supply network in Japan is likely to cause continued disruption in Japan following last week's huge earthquake and tsunami.
US: Nissan Americas continues production "until further notice"
15 March 2011
Nissan Americas has provided an update from its teams in Japan and abroad to asses the status of its employees and the impact on its operations following the huge earthquake last week.
JAPAN: Mazda extends production shutdown
15 March 2011
Mazda is to extend production suspension at its Hiroshima and Hofu plants until March 20 following the huge earthquake that continues to cause huge disruption across the country.
Uncomfortable nuclear questions relevant to autos
15 March 2011
The news emerging from Japan about the ongoing problems for the stricken nuclear plant at Fukishima is apparently causing governments around the world to pause for thought about the risks that nuclear plants present.
JAPAN: SRI halts tyre production at Shirakawa factory after earthquake
14 March 2011
SRI Group's Japanese tyre factory at Shirakawa has stopped manufacturing operations due to an energy black out coupled with damage to the building following the country's massive earthquake last Friday (11 March)
JAPAN: Autoliv’s employees and plants 'safe'
14 March 2011
Autoliv has issued a statement to say that its Japanese facilities and employees are okay following the quake and tsunami that has devastated parts of northern Japan.
JAPAN: Bridgestone verifying factories status after earthquake
14 March 2011
Bridgestone is evaluating the scale of damage caused to its factories in Japan following the devastating earthquake last Friday (11 March) that has seen automakers temporarily halt production.
JAPAN UPDATE: Carmakers halt production to assess quake damage
14 March 2011
Japanese car companies have suspended production in the wake of Friday’s earthquake and tsunami which devasted many areas in the north of the country.
JAPAN EARTHQUAKE [updated 15:35GMT]: Effects on the auto industry
11 March 2011
An 8.8 earthquake, the largest to hit the country in 120 years, followed by a tsunami, rocked the north of Japan at about 5.46GMT (13.46 local), with the centre close to Sendai, where Toyota recently opened a new plant.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Unwelcome shake-up in Japan
11 March 2011
Until the events of the early hours of today, it looked like Friday would be pretty quiet, news-wise. The huge earthquake in Japan, either the biggest or the second biggest to hit the country, according to whose report you read, has certainly been keeping the 24-hour news channels and wire services busy. And, to a certain extent, us.
JAPAN: Toyota taking stock after huge tsunami slams Japan
11 March 2011
Toyota says it is too early to make an assessment whether or not any of its plants have been damaged in this morning's (11 March) huge earthquake off the coast off Japan.
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