rjm

From the Car Pro Show Newsletter this morning:

"JAPAN EARTHQUAKES DISRUPT AUTO PRODUCTION:

TOYOTA HURT WORST

JAPAN EARTHQUAKE: Deadly earthquakes will shut down virtually all Toyota production in Japan this week, torpedoing exports of Lexus products, the Prius hybrid and some trucks at a critical time when Toyota is trying to get more crossovers for the U.S.

Suspended vehicles include the hot-selling Lexus RX and NX crossovers and the Toyota RAV4. Also hit are the Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser SUVs and the Lexus GX and LX SUVs.

The stoppage comes as other automakers cut back on output or reassess production plans after the quakes in southwest Japan knocked some suppliers offline. Affected suppliers still had no time line for resuming operations.

...All other domestic lines at Toyota will be down, affecting virtually every nameplate exported to the U.S. The list includes the Lexus ES, LS, IS and GS sedans as well as the RC coupe and CT hatchback. Also on hold is production of the Scion tC and xB, as well as the new Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle."

jtrue28

Isn't the ES now produced in Kentucky?

shurik74

iTrader: (5)

Yes, you are right... in Kentucky Well... they might still make ES's in Japan for other markets in the world

jkeller

Think all ES hybrids are in made in Japan.

KennethGS

The Kentucky ES line has a max capacity of 50,000 a year, which is less than annual US sales. So they must still be importing quite a few.

rjm

Even for cars made in Kentucky the problem will be getting the parts that are manufactured in Japan.

"Affected suppliers still had no time line for resuming operations."

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

Still making the tC and xB? Thought Scion was no more? Guess it's until parts run out?

jtrue28

A lot of the parts for the KY plant are made in the surrounding area. There are a LOT of suppliers in this area that supply to TMMK.

Reading another article on Yahoo said that most of the production will begin again next week.