Nissan Americas has provided an update from its teams in Japan and abroad to assess the status of its employees and the impact on its operations following the huge earthquake last week.
The US division adds its employees and their families are safe and accounted for, including those on assignment in Japan as well as those travelling in the country on business.
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Some Nissan Americas employees who were travelling in Japan on business have already returned to their home countries while others are in the process of returning.
All Nissan Americas manufacturing facilities remain operational and will continue normal production schedules until further notice, said the company in a statement.
In total, six of Nissan’s facilities in Japan have reported some damage to their buildings or equipment, including Iwaki Plant (Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture), Tochigi Plant (Kawachi County, Tochigi Prefecture), Yokohama Plant (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture), Oppama Plant (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture), Zama Operations Centre (Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture) and Honmoku Wharf (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture).
Nissan’s Tochigi and Iwaki plants will suspend operations until Friday, 18 March, while the Oppama, Kyushu, Shatai and Yokohama plants will suspend operations until Wednesday, 16 March.
Nearly 70% of the vehicles Nissan Americas sells in the region are produced in the region and manufacturing operations are continuing to operate on a normal schedule.
In its statement the US operation noted: “In general Nissan Americas is operating with sufficient days’ supply of vehicle stock on the ground in the region or already in transit from Japanese ports.
“Some US and Canadian-bound vehicles at the Port of Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture and other vehicles stored at the Miyagi Service Centre (Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture) were damaged due to the earthquake and/or tsunami [while] some Infiniti models and Nissan GTR and 370Zs may experience delays in shipment to the US and Canada with full impact still being assessed.”
A shipment of more than 600 Nissan Leafs destined for the US left port in Japan on 10 March just prior to the earthquake and will arrive as scheduled.
Future impact, if any, on Nissan Leaf supply continues to be assessed.
