Auto Production Plants Resume Operations in Japan After Snow Storm

Feb 18, 2014 12:00 PM EST | Matt Mercuro

Many Japanese car makers, like Toyota Motors, have resumed operations at their production facilities in Japan after dealing with a nasty snow storm that prevented parts deliveries, according to a report by Reuters.

Heavy snow fell in Tokyo and other parts of eastern Japan on Feb. 14 and the weekend, causing nasty traffic on some of the most popular roadways in the region, according to Reuters.

Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, and Suzuki have all been impacted by the snow storm.

"It may be difficult to fully catch up on the lost production volume, though that is up to how much the companies can operate their plants on the weekends," said Satomi Hamada, a senior analyst at IHS Automotive, according to Reuters.

Mazda said it suspended operations earlier this morning (Feb. 18) at its Hiroshima plant since deliveries were still delayed on account of the heavy snow.

Nissan Motors also confirmed one of its plants were still stalled as well, according to Reuters.

Hamada said there will be "little impact" on domestic sales, because automakers will likely focus on making the vehicles for the domestic market to answer strong demand instead of focusing on exports, according to Reuters.

Toyota reopened all four plants affected by the snow, including its Tsutsumi plant which is used to make the popular Prius hybrid vehicle, spokeswoman Kayo Doi said.

The plants account for approximately 30 percent of Toyota's Japanese production, and 60 percent of vehicles made at the four plants are exported, according to Hamada.

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