Japanese Parts Paralysis Reaches Subaru Indiana
Production of Legacy, Outback and Tribeca Subarus in Lafayette, Ind. will pause on Friday, April 15, Monday, April 18 and Monday, April 25 while Subaru sorts out supplies from Japan, Subaru of Indiana spokeswoman spokeswoman Jennifer McGarvey told Automotive News [sub].
Production at the plant had been impeded before.
Yesterday, Fox59 reported that production of the Toyota Camry, which runs on a separate line in Lafayette, would be stopped on April 21 and 25. Reuters clears the confusion and says that “a separate production line that makes the Camry for Toyota Motor Corp will also shut down for four days in April after a reduced production schedule through April 25.” Toyota had announced North American plant closures for April 15, 18, 21, 22, and 25.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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Isn't the Forester too built in that plant?
Talk about buying a Friday or Monday production model... Lord have mercy on the poor souls that buys those VIN# produced a few hours before the Friday shutdown... and the first ones produced when they re-start that thing five or six days later from parts supplied from 'alternative' sources.
Parts shortages from suppliers in Japan are also affecting vehicle output at GM and Honda plants in the US, and production and sales levels may not return to "normal" until the second half of 2011, according to a J.D. Power expert.
Manager: OH NO! We can't get the entire rear or front or fender assemblies for the Outback or Legacy. What will we do!?!? Employee: Just release as is? They will look better. Manager: That's true...