"Toyota's U.S. manufacturing subsidiary in Erlanger, Ky., told its U.S. employees, plant workers and dealers Wednesday that some production interruptions in North America were likely.
The automaker said it could not predict which sites would be affected or for how long.
Most of the components used in Toyota's North American assembly operations come from some 500 suppliers in the region.
"We continue to receive parts from Japan that were already in the pipeline, limiting the immediate impact," Toyota said.
It said dealers still had an ample supply of vehicles.
But within weeks, if automakers have not restored their supply lines, they will start running low on components and dealers will experience shortages of cars.
Many of the firms in the hard-hit, mostly rural region are small- and mid-sized parts makers, far from Japan's industrial heartland farther south.
Yet some of them make parts — notably electronic components — that aren't easily interchangeable."
"So far, Honda Motor Co. has said that about a third of its 110 suppliers in the Tohoku region would not be able to resume operations for more than a week.
Nissan Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn said about 40 suppliers are in difficulty, hindering efforts to restart car production.
Nissan's own Iwaki engine plant in the affected region will not be up and running before mid-April."
"Most automakers haven't yet identified the potential bottlenecks and parts shortages. "The concern is all the unknowns the farther down you get in the supply chain," said Lars Luedeman, director of automotive practice at consulting firm Grant Thornton.
Automakers don't know how quickly these firms can restart production and how long it will take them to reach peak levels.
Many automakers don't even know who all their suppliers are. They have very close relationships with their big Tier One suppliers, "but they don't necessarily have visibility in the supply chain beyond their direct contact point," Luedeman said."
Updated damage assessment
The automaker said it could not predict which sites would be affected or for how long.
Most of the components used in Toyota's North American assembly operations come from some 500 suppliers in the region.
"We continue to receive parts from Japan that were already in the pipeline, limiting the immediate impact," Toyota said.
It said dealers still had an ample supply of vehicles.
But within weeks, if automakers have not restored their supply lines, they will start running low on components and dealers will experience shortages of cars.
Many of the firms in the hard-hit, mostly rural region are small- and mid-sized parts makers, far from Japan's industrial heartland farther south.
Yet some of them make parts — notably electronic components — that aren't easily interchangeable."
"So far, Honda Motor Co. has said that about a third of its 110 suppliers in the Tohoku region would not be able to resume operations for more than a week.
Nissan Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn said about 40 suppliers are in difficulty, hindering efforts to restart car production.
Nissan's own Iwaki engine plant in the affected region will not be up and running before mid-April."
"Most automakers haven't yet identified the potential bottlenecks and parts shortages. "The concern is all the unknowns the farther down you get in the supply chain," said Lars Luedeman, director of automotive practice at consulting firm Grant Thornton.
Automakers don't know how quickly these firms can restart production and how long it will take them to reach peak levels.
Many automakers don't even know who all their suppliers are. They have very close relationships with their big Tier One suppliers, "but they don't necessarily have visibility in the supply chain beyond their direct contact point," Luedeman said."
Updated damage assessment