Mysterious Explosion Makes Toyota Suspend Production… Again
The robots will be relieved to finally get a break.
Toyota just can’t seem to catch a break recently. Last month, a devastating storm damaged the roof of its manufacturing plant in San Antonio, TX, forcing it to temporarily stop production; now, Toyota once again has to put production on hold following a freak event that occurred through no fault of its own.
Japanese auto parts supplier Aisin Advics has reported a mysterious gas explosion at one of its plants in central Japan that occurred near one of its paint lines and injured four people. The company is a major supplier of braking systems for Toyota and is owned by Aisin Seiki Co., a Toyota group supplier.
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Aisin Advics is still determining what caused the explosion and the extent of its damage, including how it may affect its customers. According to Reuters, Toyota is suspending production at three of its factories in Japan:
Toyota said it would cancel one of two production shifts on two lines at a plant operated by group company Hino Motors Ltd. Earlier in the day, it scrapped shifts on a line at its Toyota East Japan plant and at a plant operated by group company Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd.
The factories produce the Toyota Prius c, Toyota Century (the automaker’s flagship sedan in Japan), and various other Toyota vehicles we don’t get to see in North America. Yes, this does mean that if you recently ordered a new Corolla or Tundra in the United States, you shouldn’t be affected.
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This isn’t the first time Toyota has had to suspend production because of supply-chain disruptions. Earlier this year, earthquakes in southern Japan caused damage to a plant operated by an Aisin Seiki subsidiary, and a fire broke out at a steel plant owned by another major supplier.
Toyota says production will be back to normal by June 6. Let’s hope nature stops holding a grudge against the automaker after then.
News Source: Reuters
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