Plants in Japan after the Earthquake

costello1 · March 2011

Does anybody know of the status of any of the Mitsi plants after the terrible event?

stever · March 2011

All I've seen so far are reports that Toyota has closed all their factories (12?) while they assess damage and account for employees. One engine plant up north was heavily damaged. One Honda worker was killed at a research facility. The Infiniti/Nissan car staging lot at the port of Hitachinaka that got destroyed made for an amazing photo.
Japanese automakers assess damage, close some plants (Detroit News)

Finding a little more:
Mitsubishi Production Could Be Stalled (centralillinoisproud.com). So the earthquake may affect production at the Normal IL plant.

Mitsubishi eyes parts supply after quake (pantagraph.com)

fushigi · March 2011

Mitsu posted this on Facebook: "Please join us in sending good thoughts to our friends in Japan. So far it sounds like everyone at MMC is okay - though many had to spend the night in the office, as they could not get home. We've linked to the Google Crisis Response page, which provides information and can help you if you are having trouble trying to contact or locate someone in Japan."

stever · March 2011

Quake Aftermath Severe, Deep Auto Sector Impact (AutoObserver)

fintail · March 2011

QX56 monstrosity is Japan-built? Along with Quest and MDX?

ateixeira · March 2011

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/14/honda-temporarily-shutters-motorcycle-facilit- ies-in-wake-of-earthquake/

We will see cascading effects. Pretty soon supplier X will run out of widgets, which supply this sub-assembly, which go in that car.

Honda can't even reach all its suppliers to ask.

stever · March 2011

Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan plan to resume production, at least partially, this week (Mitsu has already resumed domestic production).

Toyota Extends Car Assembly Production Halt But Some Plants Resume Works (Fox)

However, the Detroit News says Toyota won't start making vehicles until at least March 23rd.

Toyota, Nissan extend production halts after quake

ateixeira · March 2011

Automakers face quake-related shortages of microchips, batteries, experts say

Ford is among the numerous manufacturers worldwide that depend on Japan for everything from memory chips to batteries for hybrid cars. The goal is to avoid parts shortages while Japanese suppliers such as Sanyo Electric Co. and Toshiba Corp. make sure they have access to power, water, transportation and materials.

The U.S. relies on Japan for about 14 percent of parts for auto production, Hill said, predicting that Toyota, Nissan and Honda will see the biggest impact to their U.S. operations.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110315/OEM10/110319938/1490- #ixzz1GmCXKzXH

Another article...

Fuji Heavy, which also had planned shutdowns through Wednesday, extended them through Sunday, too.

Subaru also canceled overtime at an assembly plant in Lafayette, Ind., this week to conserve parts.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110315/GLOBAL/110319944/149- 0#ixzz1GmDASltJ

iluvmysephia1 · March 2011

does this mean full Japanese-built Mitsubishi production? To what Mitsubishi was producing happily before the big quake and tsunami hit?

Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan plan to resume production, at least partially, this week (Mitsu has already resumed domestic production).

ateixeira · March 2011

AN says plants are now to stay closed thru March 22.

stever · March 2011

"Honda, Nissan and Toyota told Inside Line on Wednesday that they do not believe there is any harmful radiation risk on cars and parts coming from Japan.

Responding to an e-mail query from Inside Line, Mike Michels, vice president of communications for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., wrote: "The majority of our operations are in Aichi prefecture, which is far from the earthquake zone and contamination sources. Vehicles are plastic-wrapped on ships ("wrapguard") and washed at our processing facilities before shipping to dealers. This is normal procedure. Also, Customs and Homeland Security already routinely monitor shipments for radiation as part of anti-terrorism procedures."

Japanese Carmakers Say No Radiation Risk Expected on Exported Vehicles (Inside Line)

ateixeira · March 2011

For a minute there I thought the glow-in-the-dark, Mountain Dew colored Lexus CT was totally irradiated.

ateixeira · March 2011

AN Alert: General Motors will suspend production at its Shreveport, La., assembly plant starting Monday because of a parts shortage stemming from the earthquake in Japan. The plant makes the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon compact pickups

Strange...

lemko · March 2011

Don't they also make the rare Suzuki Equator and didn't they once make and Isuzu I-series there?

ateixeira · March 2011

Funny, I just mentioned the same thing in another thread (the Isuzu link, that is). Must be...

stever · March 2011

"The short- to medium-term loss of stable component supply will have a substantive effect on the ability for (automakers) final-production facilities to quickly resume operations, said a report today from IHS Global Insight

The shutdown of some critical supplier facilities has begun to affect operations outside Japan, as well."

Japan's Auto Concerns Shift to Suppliers (AutoObserver)

"Honda Motor Co (7267.T) has warned U.S. dealers that it is not sure if it will be able to resume full production at certain Japanese plants before May, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a memo distributed by the automaker." (Reuters)

ateixeira · March 2011

May...first realistic estimate I've seen, too.

stever · March 2011

Nissan said today that later this week it will "restart its entire auto production process after a devastating quake brought the country's auto industry to a standstill." (Wall St. Journal).

Not that "entire" doesn't mean full - production lines are subject to power blackouts and lack of parts. The Nissan engine plant near the nuke plant won't be restarted yet.

Damaged roads and gas shortages are affecting the supply logistics of all the Japanese automakers.

ateixeira · March 2011

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/18/video-watch-as-japanese-motorists-car-is-engu- lfed-by-the-tsunami/

ateixeira · March 2011

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2011/03/nissan-to-check-radioactivity-of-japa- nese-imports.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+car- %20s%2Fkickingtires+%28Kicking+Tires%29

ateixeira · March 2011

Toyota, Honda extend shutdowns as rivals resume output after quake

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110322/OEM01/110329971/1117- #ixzz1HL8qFJB8

ateixeira · March 2011

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/22/report-another-gm-plant-halted-by-parts-short- age-workers-layed/

stever · March 2011

"Japans close-knit and highly integrated supplier sector has not been forthcoming with particulars of how widely the disaster has impacted the countrys supplier network and, just as important, whether damage to roads and railways will take an extended toll on the just-in-time parts-delivery model the industrys suppliers have made so famous."

Honda And Toyota Japanese Factories Remain Closed (AutoObserver)

ateixeira · March 2011

Toyota braces for slowdown in North American output

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110323/OEM01/110329940/1117- #ixzz1HWXLQqoV

ateixeira · March 2011

it will take several months for its r&d center in the quake zone to resume full operations.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110324/OEM01/110329937/1117- #ixzz1HWYtr5Vp

Other Japanese automakers limped toward recovery today, with Toyota Motor Corp. announcing plans to resume limited production of hybrid vehicles, including the Prius, on Monday.

Nissan Motor Co. resumed operation at its five domestic assembly plants. But those plants are working on cars already in progress and with components in stock. Supplies of incoming parts remain in question.

Fuji Heavy Industries, maker of Subaru cars, extended existing factory shutdowns into a new week.

ateixeira · March 2011

Special Report: Disasters show flaws in just-in-time production

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/21/us-japan-supplychain-sp-idUSTRE72K5AL2- 0110321?pageNumber=1

ateixeira · March 2011

Check this out:

http://jalopnik.com/#!5785281

Incredbile!

6 days!

DC can't fill a pothole in 6 weeks!

stever · March 2011

"Toyota's U.S. manufacturing arm is preparing for a possible shutdown because of parts shortages from Japan, a Toyota spokesman said.

Toyota employs 25,000 manufacturing and R&D workers in North America.

"All automakers are just now figuring out who supplies every little part." Said Edmunds.com senior analyst Michelle Krebs. "The shortage of any one could shut down an assembly line. Toyota isn't the only one vulnerable; virtually all major automakers have some risks."

Toyota tells U.S. plants 'prepare to shut down' (Yahoo)

ateixeira · March 2011

http://www.autoobserver.com/2011/03/production-status-in-japan-remains-murky.htm- l

stever · March 2011

Ford "halted all new orders for trucks, SUVs and cars in "tuxedo black" and other hues due to shortages of some pigments made in Japan."

Reverse Model T: Some Fords Won't Be Painted Black (Wall St. Journal)

ateixeira · March 2011

Wow, man, welcome to the global economy!

Henry Ford is turning over in his grave, he like all colors as long as they were black!

ateixeira · March 2011

Japan quake may cut global auto output by about 30%, IHS says

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110324/OEM01/303249730/1492- #ixzz1HcLuc2fr

Ouch!

ateixeira · March 2011

Toyota said that on Monday that it will resume limited production of the Prius and the Lexus HS250h and Lexus CT 200h hybrid vehicles. But the rest of its auto assembly will remain suspended indefinitely, extending the suspensions into a second full week

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110324/OEM01/110329933/1492- #ixzz1HcMOw2Ne

robr2 · March 2011

Wow, man, welcome to the global economy!

On the ride home last night, there was a story on NPR about a one man factory that makes a component for Hitachi who in turn uses that part on a subway car component for the NYC subway system. One man shop can't get steel, Hitachi can't get his part, NYC has trains sitting around waiting for repair.

ateixeira · March 2011

ALERT: Mazda suspends U.S. dealer orders for Japan-built models

Source: Automotive News.

fezo · March 2011

I just caught that. I guess it will keep me being a good boy on not buying another car real soon since Mazda would be high on my list.

ateixeira · March 2011

Still got CCB?

Maybe buy now before supply is short and prices go up?

Sorry, feeding the addiction...

ateixeira · March 2011

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/25/report-ford-feels-japan-quake-effect-with-sho- rtage-of-red-blac/

ateixeira · March 2011

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/25/mazda-dealers-in-u-s-asked-not-to-order-cars-- from-japan/

ateixeira · March 2011

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/26/will-japans-nuclear-woes-dampen-electric-vehi- cle-enthusiasm/

stever · March 2011

Interesting connection.

nippononly · March 2011

coming in for a few months, looks like, and no Honda Fits either. It's a good thing they had loaded up on those models just prior to the quake.

Mazda is going to be hurt the most by this - the Mazda3 supply will get messed up, and that's 3/4 of their sales volume.

robr2 · March 2011

IMHO, autoblog is making quite the stretch.

They don't cite any proof that the 1m EV's in Europe centered around an increase for nuke plants. They dont take into account the reduction in use of fossil fuels as geenrating electricity is more efficient than burning in vehicles.

ateixeira · March 2011

The media often get it wrong.

Public reaction is important, though. Japan must contain any radiation leaks, else the public will over-react as well.

Kirstie_H · March 2011

A reporter would like to interview someone who is having trouble finding a new Prius at a dealership. Please email pr@edmunds.com by Thursday, March 31, 2011 with your daytime contact information and a few words about your experience.

ateixeira · March 2011

that will result in a shortage of 233 parts numbers for at least 30 days...

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110329/OEM01/110329866/1490- #ixzz1I5fdlmQQ

ateixeira · March 2011

Honda Motor Co. will slash daily output at its U.S. assembly plants by as much as 50 percent starting Wednesday, as the supply of parts coming from Japanese suppliers hit by the March 11 earthquake dwindles.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110329/OEM01/110329850/1117- #ixzz1I5jN1JU5

ateixeira · March 2011

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/30/report-japanese-automakers-to-discuss-rotatin- g-schedule-of-prod/

robr2 · March 2011

That's actually a pretty amazing idea. I wonder though how it would really help? I guess it would be based on how common parts would be. I'm sure plenty of unseen bits are shared and suppliers can use raw materials for certain parts - thank goodness they've mastered the art of SMED.

ateixeira · March 2011

I think one of the primary concerns is power consumption.

Apparently Tokyo and the northern half of Japan is still on 50Hz, while the southern half uses the more standardized 60Hz system.

So they are not able to share power, and send power from the southern grid to compensate for the outages up north.

This is why they have rolling blackouts in the north (including Tokyo).

ateixeira · March 2011

Note how the dates keep sliding....

Honda targets mid-April factory startup as carmakers inch toward recovery

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110331/OEM/110339979/1117#i- - xzz1ICKvT6V1

They also say the plant that builds the Toyota Yaris will be offline for another full month!

Plants in Japan after the Earthquake

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