In the aftermath of the magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake of March 11, the Japan’s great automakers are mostly at a standstill. Supply chains, transport and shipping facilities have all been affected by the quake and subsequent tsunami. There’s also rolling blackouts in some areas due to an energy shortage resulting from damage to nuclear plants. How are the automakers responding to the worst quake in Japanese history?
- Toyota is donating 300 million yen to relief and recovery efforts and has suspended all manufacturing nationwide. President Akio Toyoda issued a brief message. “I offer my prayers to all those who lost their lives in the March 11 Tohoku Earthquake and its ensuing aftermath, as well as my sympathy to the survivors and their families. Not only is the struck region one of our production bases, those directly hit and vastly affected include our dealers, suppliers and numerous other partners. With life the number-one priority, we want to do all we can to contribute to the relief efforts. Determined to provide hope for not only those suffering and forced to undergo extreme hardships, but also for the region overall, we will do our utmost toward the realization of recovery.”
- Honda is donating 300 million yen, 1,000 generators and 5,000 gas canisters toward the relief and recovery effort. Staff is being dispatched to instruct on generator operation. It will suspend production in factories at Sayama, Ogawa, Tochigi, Hamamatsu, Suzuka and Kumamoto. All regular operations at Honda facilities in the Tochigi area, including R&D centers, will be suspended as well. One Honda employee was killed at a Tochigi R&D center when a wall collapsed.
- Nissan is donating 30 million yen, trucks, forklifts and medical supplies to relief and recovery efforts. It has suspended operations at its plants in Iwaki, Tochigi, Yokohama, Oppama, and Zama. Small fires broke out at the Iwaki and Tochigi plants but have been put out and the others have reported some damage. 1,300 US-bound vehicles were damaged at the port of Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture. 1,000 vehicles stored in Miyagi Prefecture were damaged by the tsunami (see image) Because of a shut-down of train and transportation systems, about 1,500 employees had to spend the night at work. Nissan also opened its Yokohama headquarters building to the public, providing shelter for at least 150 people. All Nissan Gallery showrooms will be closed and all dealership signboard lights will be blacked out to save electricity.
- Mitsubishi (UPDATED) is donating 30 million yen to victims and will supply vehicles to local authorities in damaged areas. MMC has facilities in Nagoya, Gifu, and Okayama, all quite a distance from the affected regions. However, some suppliers have reported damages. Production may resume as early as March 16.
- Mazda is donating 30 million yen to relief and recovery and efforts. Although Mazda’s production facilities in Hofu and Hiroshima are the farthest from the quake of any automaker, it is taking precautions and closing plants until March 16.
Once again, please consider a donation to relief efforts for Japan. (via JCCS)
What about FHI?
FHI didn’t issue a statement about their status, but their location in Tochigi puts them in the affected area. We hope everything is ok with them!
Two big hurdles to overcome with auto manufacturing shutdowns:
One: Japanese auto makers have mastered the just-in-time delivery system, so that parts for assembly are delivered, from local suppliers, as the parts are needed. The auto makers carry no stockpile of parts and the local suppliers time production to match the delivery schedule, so they carry no stockpile either.
Two: Many of the local suppliers do not fit the western expectation of a factory or even an industrial park shop. They are true mom-and-pop operations working out of their homes. Karin Muller’s “Japanland” documentary covered this in a segment about five elderly housewives who meet once a week to assemble automobile wiring harnesses in a spare room in one of the women’s homes. Rolling electricity blackouts and lack of gasoline has crippled the parts network.
I don’t know about Japan, but during blizzards all the Subarus around here are driving around pulling people out of ditches!
On a more serious note, it’s great to see such cooperation and support from the automakers. Hopefully the damage can be repaired. I wish all the people involved with this the best of fortune!
Not to sound callous, but anyone can ID the white car in the background?
Daihatsu Midget.
Thank you for the bulletin guys, many of the news outlets just talk about the continuing troubles. Most of us are now concerned with how Japan is doing and how the troubles are being fixed. (Hope is what we hold on to).