Bridgestone Corp. has outlined plans for restarting production at its factories in and near the hard-hit Kanto region of Japan, according to Tire Review magazine, a sister publication to aftermarketNews.com.
Coastal areas of the Kanto region were heavily damaged March 11 by the one-two punch of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and an accompanying tsunami.
The tiremaker said that truck tire manufacture will take priority when production restarts, as these products are most needed for the recovery of the devastated areas in Japan.
Production at Bridgestone’s Yokohama and Tokyo factories has already recommenced, although electricity supply and other issues are still restricting a return to full production at the Yokohama site.
It is anticipated that Bridgestone’s Tochigi, Nasu and Kurioso factories will recommence production on March 16. Deliveries from the Tokyo plant are expected to restart on March 16 and deliveries from Tochigi and Nasu on March 18 or thereafter.
Bridgestone points out that “though there is no critical damage at the factories, there are some facilities or equipment damaged, and earthquake aftershocks have been following.” Bridgestone also says it will “appropriately” cooperate with the rolling blackouts that have been announced, adding: “At the same time, we will endeavor to minimize the impact of the blackouts through the full utilization of co-generation systems which are installed at each factory.”
Yesterday, Nissan Americas issued a status update regarding the Japanese earthquake and its impact on Nissan Americas operations.
Nissan Americas has confirmed the safety of all expat employees and their families in Japan. Nissan Americas employees traveling in Japan on business have returned to their home countries and the few remaining Nissan Americas travelers in the country are scheduled to return no later than March 19.
Currently, all business travel to Japan has been suspended. Nissan added that a number of national governments have recommended their citizens consider leaving the greater Tokyo area or Japan entirely. Nissan says it is working with each Americas employee regarding their own personal choices and will fully support their decision to stay or leave.
In response to the disaster, Nissan Americas has pledged $1 million (80 million yen) to the American Red Cross in relief effort support for the country. This contribution will be supported by all five of Nissan Americas main markets (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Latin America.) An immediate $500,000 (40 million yen) cash donation to the American Red Cross plus the automaker says it will match, dollar-for-dollar, total contributions raised by online visitors (employees, retirees, dealers, suppliers and customers) up to $500,000 (40 million yen).
All Nissan Americas manufacturing facilities remain operational and will continue to operate on a planned production schedule until further notice, the company added. Although all plants in Japan, except for the Iwaki engine plant, have been able to repair some damaged facilities and/or equipment, it is still taking time to arrange delivery of parts from suppliers, Nissan reports. The company added that at the Iwaki engine plant, with aftershocks still heavily impacting the region, restoration activities are expected to take longer than at other plants.
Nissan’s Oppama Plant, Tochigi Plant, Yokohama Plant and Nissan Shatai are suspending operations until Sunday, March 20 (Part of the Yokohama Plant resumed operations on March 13.) Kyushu Plant and Nissan Shatai Kyushu are resuming production on Thursday, March 17, and Friday, March 18, while inventory of supplies lasts. However, operations after Saturday March 19 are yet to be decided. Nissan’s JATCO’s Fuji Plant and Fujinomiya Plant, which manufactures transmissions, have reported partial damage to its buildings and equipment. Operations have been suspended and damage is currently being assessed.
Nearly 70 percent of the vehicles Nissan Americas sells in the region are produced in the region and manufacturing operations are continuing to operate on a normal schedule. Due to an approximately 50 days’ supply of vehicle stock on the ground in the region or already in transit from Japanese ports, Nissan Americas does not anticipate any near-term impact on sales or vehicle availability.
Approximately 1,300 Infiniti vehicles were damaged in port in Japan due to the earthquake/tsunami, which equates to less than a few days’ supply for the brand. Historically, Infiniti keeps an approximately 20,000 unit inventory in the U.S., so this unit loss is expected to be made up over the next several months.
At Mazda, the board of the Mazda Foundation (USA) Inc. also has approved a donation of $150,000 to the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund.
