Japanese auto-maker Honda suspended UK production Thursday (15/9/00) as fuel shortages across Europe began to affect component deliveries, writes the UK`s Financial Times (15/9/00).
Production was stopped at its Swindon plant on Thursday afternoon, with the company informing 3,000 employees that full production would not resume until Honda could guarantee the supply of parts. The report says that the shutdown will result in the loss of some 500 cars per day.
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Citing Honda, the FT says that the company hopes to resume output of both its Accord and Civic models next week if deliveries of parts improved.
The decision to suspend production – the first large vehicle manufacturer in the UK to do so – coincides with the UK fuel crisis possibly affecting other car-makers.
The article says that Toyota’s Burnaston plant, in the Midlands, might possibly be affected due to a shortage of parts sourced from Belgium, while Germany’s Volkswagen – expected to export 30,000 cars into Britain this month – fears that 10,000 new cars sales could be affected because of distribution problems. Car manufacturers including Vauxhall, Ford, Nissan and Toyota say UK production was continuing, although the situation was being monitored daily.
The FT – quoting the National Franchised Dealers Association which represents car dealers nationwide – says that thousands of vehicles could be stockpiled at UK ports because hauliers could not get fuel.
Disruption – resulting in similar shutdowns – has been reported in Belgium at plants operated by Volvo, Ford and General Motors` main European arm, Adam Opel, says the article.
