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Nissan Production Delayed By Earthquakes

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2016 Nissan Murano

Earlier this month, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit Japan, causing property damage, injury, and death. Japan has seen its fair share of earthquake damage in recent years, and we send our thoughts and support to the affected Kumamoto prefecture. Unfortunately, the natural disaster has had an effect on vehicle manufacturing, and could cause delays here in the United States.


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Manufacturer Aisin Seiki had its manufacturing facilities damaged in the earthquake, with the factory in the area losing windows, mortar, and large chunks of wall. Aisin Seiki helps brands like Nissan and Toyota build a component called door checks. This is the device built in to a car door that holds the door open as a driver loads the vehicle. Without a door check, heavy car doors would close immediately once they are opened.

According to Nikkei Asian Review, Aisin Seiki is working quickly to repair their damaged factory, but the manufacturers of the world can’t wait. That has led the parts supplier to use cranes to remove machinery and tools from the damaged facility so that they can be moved to cooperating companies nearby so that production can resume. Aisin Seiki also builds door stops in China and Mexico, and those facilities have ramped up production. It takes more time for those components to reach Japanese manufacturing facilities, however.


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In the case of Nissan, this production delay mostly hits the plant in Fukuoka that assembles the Nissan Murano and Nissan Rogue. Thanks to Aisin Seiki’s flexibility, the disruption should be resolved reasonably soon. We wish the whole crew at the Aisin Seiki factory well, and hope that they recover soon.

News Sources: Jalopnik and Nikkei Asian Review