Automakers extend plant suspensions after Kumamoto quake
The Kyushu region accounts for nearly 15% of domestic auto production, according to the government's Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Automakers are extending the suspension of their plants following the devastating earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture last week. The impact of the disaster has spread beyond the Kyushu region, affecting plants on Honshu's main island. Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor, and Daihatsu Motor have each suspended plant operations and the production of certain models for two days, starting from Friday, due to disruptions in the supply of parts and logistics issues caused by damage to related companies.
The automakers are uncertain about when they will be able to resume their operations. Kyushu, a major hub for the auto industry, accounts for nearly 15% of domestic auto production and is home to over 1,000 related companies. Aisin, a Toyota-affiliated parts manufacturer, is working to restore a plant in Kumamoto. The company has diversified its production systems and maintains some inventory, learned from the experience of a similar disaster 10 years ago.
Aisin hopes to minimize the impact of the latest earthquake by utilizing alternative production sites.
Some facilities of other major auto parts manufacturers are also halted because the factories of their clients have stopped operations. Meanwhile, recovery is progressing at semiconductor plants. Renesas Electronics expects to resume production at its Kawashiri plant in Kumamoto gradually from Wednesday, with its production capacity returning to pre-disaster levels by the end of August.
Its Nishiki plant in Kumamoto's town of Nishiki has already resumed operations. An image sensor plant of Sony Group in Kikuyo is also expected to gradually resume operations from Tuesday.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
