Japanese disaster halts vehicle production

TOKYO — While it might be too early to measure the long-term consequences of Japan’s deadly tsunami and earthquake devastation, it’s clear that manufacturing in this country — one of the world’s economic powerhouses — has come to a virtual standstill.

And hardest hit are some of the nation’s car and truck makers as well as their suppliers.

And their losses will soon extend overseas.

According to Automotive News, one of the leading publications of Detroit-based Crain Communications, importers can expect serious delays and shortages in the coming weeks.

Toyota has suspended all manufacturing in Japan — at both assembly and parts plants — on Monday.

Even if the company re-opens by Wednesday of this week, about 40,000 new vehicles will have been lost and U.S. production may be hit if American facilities can’t get parts.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has stopped production at all its factories until at Wednesday but it says it has enough parts to resume on Thursday.

Honda, Nissan, Subaru and Suzuki said shutdowns have been extended to later in the week. Mazda also closed down Monday.

Honda has 113 suppliers in the quake zone and still can’t get in touch with 44 of them.

Nissan is closing its Tochigi assembly plant and an engine plant — both in the quake zone –- at least through Friday.

Mazda said it was suspending the Monday night shifts at its two assembly plants and asking workers at both shifts to stay home Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mazda’s shutdown affects almost every model it sells in North America except the Mazda6 sedan, which is made in Michigan at its joint venture plant with FoMoCo.