Honda announced on the third that it will sequentially suspend four-wheel vehicle production at its Saitama and Suzuka plants because parts supply has been disrupted after suppliers were affected by the Kumamoto earthquake. Vehicle production at the Saitama plant will stop from the fifth, and at the Suzuka plant from the sixth, though some lines such as engines will continue operating. The Kumamoto plant also remains shut down. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Motors indicated on the same day that it expects to resume production of some vehicle models at its Mizushima plant as early as the fifth.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Parts supply disruption from Kumamoto earthquake forces production halts at Saitama and Suzuka plants.
Mitsubishi Motors CorporationMitsubishi expects to resume production at Mizushima plant earlier than Honda, potentially gaining relative advantage.