Toyota, Honda halt Kyushu plants through Friday after earthquake

Toyota said on Wednesday it would halt operations at three plants in southern Japan through Friday, July 31, after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, disrupting suppliers and logistics across the region.

Production Suspended Amid Aftershocks

The world's largest automaker announced suspensions at its Miyata, Kanda, and Kokura plants, just hours after resuming production that had been stopped a day earlier following Tuesday's quake. "The situation, including aftershocks and recovery efforts, is changing daily," Toyota said in a statement. "We will continue to prioritize safety above all else."english.aawsat

The Miyata plant, which has annual production capacity of about 430,000 vehicles and manufactures a wide range of Lexus luxury models, represents the most substantial disruption. The Kanda and Kokura facilities produce hybrid car units and engines.english.aawsat

Honda ↗ 0.87% said it would extend an operation suspension at its Kumamoto motorcycle plant until Friday to allow repairs to quake-damaged parts of the factory. Chipmaker Renesas halted operations at two plants in Kumamoto as it investigated the impact on equipment.english.aawsat

Broader Industrial Impact

Tuesday's earthquake, which struck at 4:27 p.m. local time on July 28, registered at the highest level on Japan's seismic intensity scale and damaged roads and knocked out power to thousands of homes. At least 13 people were killed and around 260,000 people were given evacuation orders, according to Reuters. A shopping mall collapsed and the walls of Kumamoto Castle were damaged.wikipedia+3

Nissan said it had no plans for a suspension at its plant in Fukuoka, north of Kumamoto, but added that it was monitoring its supplier and logistics situation.english.aawsat

Supply Chain Concerns

The shutdowns underscore the vulnerability of Japan's concentrated auto manufacturing base to natural disasters. Kumamoto Prefecture, on the southern island of Kyushu, hosts facilities for multiple automakers and semiconductor firms. The 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes similarly forced extended closures at Toyota and other manufacturers in the region. Whether production resumes as planned after July 31 will depend on the condition of supplier networks and continued seismic activity.english.aawsat