Parts Paranoia Daily Digest, March 24

Our daily run-down of delays, shut-downs, shortages, and postponements, triggered by the March 11 tsunami in Japan.

  • Toyota informed its U.S. dealers and workers to expect production slowdowns due to parts shortages. “Today, we communicated to team members, associates and dealers here that some production interruptions in North America are likely. It’s too early to predict location or duration,” Toyota said in a statement. Most, but not all of the parts for vehicles built in North America are sourced here. Wall Street Journal
  • Toyota expects to idle its pickup truck assembly plant south of San Antonio. “We are informing our team members that, with the situation over in Japan, it is likely that we will see some nonproduction days coming,” Craig Mullenbach, spokesman for Toyota’s San Antonio plant, said. Mullenbach added that parts needed to build the full-sized Tundra and mid-sized Tacoma pickup truck in San Antonio are running out. Reuters
  • Honda will suspend car production at its Japanese factories until at least April 3. Honda will temporarily transfer some functions such as car development and procurement out of its badly damaged R&D center in Tochigi. Reuters
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Parts Paralysis Daily Digest, March 23

Our daily run-down of delays, shut-downs, shortages, and postponements.

  • Toyota will delay the introduction of the wagon version of the Prius hybrid in Japan. A launch event was planned for late April. This event is cancelled; a new date has not been set. The Nikkei [sub].
  • Toyota will also delay the minivan version of the Prius, Reuters adds.
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  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X Save your money and just keep the car.
  • MaintenanceCosts Good stuff. I miss my LS, although it was not as bulletproof as your GS has been, having experienced suspension issues and a premature water pump leak. Lexus knows how to do a comfy sedan.
  • Dartman Nice write up. Well maintained garaged cars easily last 15+ years (
  • Redapple2 The VW saga is well remembered. Ug. RE your Lexus, with such a long refuel interval I d burn only E 0. Some of your E 10 in the tank may be from 6 mo ago.
  • 28-Cars-Later The CD player is glorious. Edit: Also really nice job on the initial shot. I'm not sure if you had any training in photography but it looks professional.