Automakers prolong plant suspensions after Kumamoto quake

Automakers are prolonging plant suspensions following last week’s major earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, with the impact spreading beyond the Kyushu region.

Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor and Daihatsu Motor extended the suspension periods of plant operations and the production of some models for two days until Friday, due to parts supply disruptions caused by damage to related companies and logistics problems.

Plants in the country’s Honshu main island have also been affected. The automakers are unsure when such operations can be resumed.

Kyushu is an auto industry hub. According to the government’s Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Kyushu accounts for nearly 15% of domestic auto production and has more than 1,000 related companies. Manufacturers of vehicles and parts have built complex supply chains that depend on each other.

Aisin, a Toyota-affiliated parts maker, is working to restore a plant of subsidiary Aisin Kyushu in the city of Kumamoto. An inspection of production lines has started, but it is uncertain when the plant’s operations can be resumed.

The Aisin group had diversified its production systems and keeps some inventory, based on lessons from the Kumamoto quake disaster 10 years ago. It hopes to limit the impact of last week’s temblor through the use of alternative production bases.

According to an executive of another major auto parts maker, some of the company’s facilities that were not damaged have also halted operations because the factories of their clients have stopped.

Meanwhile, recovery is progressing at semiconductor plants. Renesas Electronics expects to resume production at its Kawashiri plant in Kumamoto in stages from Wednesday, with its production capacity forecast to return to the level before the disaster by the end of August. Its Nishiki plant in the prefecture’s town of Nishiki has already attained such recovery.

An image sensor plant of Sony Group in the town of Kikuyo is expected to gradually resume operations in stages from Tuesday.