Many major Japanese truck manufacturers are yet to begin production. According to the top executives of the U.S. divisions for three of Japan’s manufacturers of commercial trucks, the production at the truck plants of their parent companies is yet to begin as a result of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, one of their worst natural disasters to hit Japan.
All of the three OEM’s, Mitsubishi Fuso, Isuzu and Hino introduced new models of their trucks at the recently concluded work truck show by NTEA, in Indianapolis. According to the GM & VP of Isuzu’s American division, Shaun Skinner, the damage to their Tochigi and Fujisawa plants was marginal. However, the decision was taken to have both the plants idle because of prolonged concerns for recovery operations as well as the need of electrical power being more to those who are in need.
He also continued, that additionally, their Japanese team is continuing to work out the impact faced by their parts suppliers. He believes that they will get a better picture of the situation by next week, regarding the impact faced by their supply chain as well as understand the overall disruption caused to their production.
Skinner also said that a week ago the port supply and dealer stock of their trucks in America was quite good, however it is impossible right now, to know how much disruption, if any, will be faced in production. Meanwhile, the VP of dealer operations and marketing for Hino’s American division, Glenn Ellis, said that till yesterday, there were no disruptions faced to their WV plant in Williamston. Their plants in Japan were closed till Wednesday, while further decision regarding the production at their plants is yet to be taken.
He also states that, Hino Japan is currently working on a regular basis with their supply base and presently, they are not expecting any disruption to their plant based in West Virginia. Ellis has said last week, that many areas around the Japanese plants of Hino Motors were not impacted heavily, however added that some suppliers in this region had been impacted, which could as a result affect other plants by some point, though it was early to predict this.
The CEO and President of Mitsubishi’s American division, Todd Bloom, said that their offices in Japan did not open till Wednesday, as a result of which he could not give any new information. Many American manufacturers were also affected as a result of parts delay from Japan.
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