I know an employee of the Ontario, California, Toyota North American Parts Center distribution warehouse.
He says they have been ‘requested’ to take “leave without pay”, due to the parts shortage in Japan.
While they are enjoying time with their families they are concerned about how long their time off without pay will last, they can’t go too long without getting paid. Toyota is not certain about when parts will start flowing into the U.S. again.
Toyota thinks they might have enough parts built up to open more of its Japanese factories.
Toyota hopes to open more plants, in Japan, by late April. However, they point out that they will not be able to run at full production, and, if parts supplies continue to be a problem then all bets are off.
Due to continued parts supply shortages caused by the 11 March disasters, Toyota is now telling dealers NOT to replace damaged parts.
Toyota wants dealer auto shops to make in-house repairs of damaged parts, when possible. Toyota says there could be at least 233 parts that are not available. They did not specify which parts, but could involve parts for suspensions and air bags.
People who just have to have a hybrid car will be glad to know that Toyota plans to start making them again.
Toyota’s hybrids are made in Japan, and production was shut down due to parts shortage (thank Mother Earth, 11 March 2011 quake-tsunami). They plan to resume production on Monday.
Production of non-hybrid Toyota vehicles, made in Japan, remains halted.
Toyota announced that if the supply problems in Japan continues it will be forced to close plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Toyota continues to delay restarts of its plants in Japan, for the same reason.
Toyota has already cut overtime work at its North American plants.
Today’s announcement is meant as a warning, so North American plant officials can prepare.
Japan’s NHK is reporting that Japanese car maker Toyota is extending its plant closers. Other auto manufactures are joining Toyota in closing down operation. These include, Honda and Nissan.
It is not damage to their factories that caused them to shut down, it is the near total destruction of Japans infrastructure. There is no power, and because roads are destroyed employees and supply of parts can not get to the factories.
The near total lose of infrastructure, in the northern half of the state of Honshu, guarantees that there will be no economic recovery for Japan, in the short run. The northern area of Honshu is home to many of Japan’s major factories. This include factories that are for other products, besides automobiles. If they can not operate, they can not sell anything. Don’t forget that the area’s agriculture industry has been wiped out.
The only way Japan can recover quickly is with economic help equal to what the United States provided after World War 2, and the U.S. is not able to do that now.
Today, Toyota announced that they are recalling 1.5 million cars and sport utility vehicles, in Japan and the United States, for faulty power brake systems and faulty fuel pumps.
The US recall includes 2005 and 2006 Avalon, 2004 to 2006 non-hybrid Highlander and Lexus RX330, and 2006 Lexus GS300, IS250, and IS350.
The brake master cylinder leaks fluid, causing reduced brake performance. The electrical fuel pumps can shut off, stalling the engine. Get with your local Toyota or Lexus dealer to have the problems fixed (at Toyota’s expense of course).