The powerful earthquake that struck Japan’s southern island of Kyushu has disrupted a number of manufacturing operations in the region, including production of vehicles and components at the country’s leading automakers. The 7.1-magnitude earthquake on 28 July, which was also felt in South Korea, cost at least 38 lives and caused widespread damage across the region.
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Suspension of production operations at a number of automakers and component manufacturers continued into this week, which could result in the loss of production of up to 20,000 vehicles, while production of electronic components, including semiconductors, has also been disrupted.
Japan’s leading automaker Toyota has temporarily halted production at three vehicle assembly and component manufacturing plants in Kyushu, as well as at one of its plants in Aichi Prefecture, around 400 miles the earthquake’s epicenter. A spokesperson for the company said the decision to suspend production was made for safety reasons and in consideration of the situation facing its distributors and suppliers.
Nissan also temporarily halted production at its two Kyushu vehicle plants, due mainly to disruptions in parts deliveries, while Mitsubishi Motors also halted production at a plant in Okayama.
Aisin Corporation, a major supplier of drivetrain, chassis, and body parts to automakers including Toyota, Daihatsu, Nissan, and Mitsubishi, confirmed that facilities located in the region were also idled temporarily for safety and quality reasons.
