The disaster in Japan will have an impact on the auto industry with many producers suspending production over the weekend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the people in Japan and hope that those who can be rescued are located and treated. The auto industry is a global business and we all share a common interest so let’s take a moment to remember our friends who may have been affected and wish them the best!
From AutoNews.com:
TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and Subaru suspended production at plants in Japan today and were assessing damage after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast, triggering a tsunami and shaking buildings as far away as Tokyo.
The shutdown could affect exports to the United States of such cars as the Toyota Yaris sedan, Scion XB and Scion XD, as well as the Honda Fit subcompact, Accord sedan and CR-V crossover. The temblor also affected production of the Acura and Infiniti lineups.
Toyota, the world’s largest carmaker, said it evacuated workers from several factories in the quake zone. Toyota has two parts plants in northern Japan and two affiliates, Kanto Auto Works Ltd. and Central Motors Co., that assemble small cars in the region.
The status of those plants was being evaluated, Toyota spokesman Dion Corbett said. “We are still trying to get information from them,” he said.
