Earthquake Destruction in Japan May Affect Production of Thousands of Nissan and Lexus Vehicles
tags:- Toyota and Nissan have suspended operations at their plants in southwestern Japan after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook the region.
- Though the plants themselves are undamaged, damage to suppliers and nearby infrastructure could lead to substantial delays.
- Toyota suspended all three of its plants until Friday, and Nissan suspended parts of its plants indefinitely.
Several Toyota and Nissan plants have suspended operations after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit the Kumamoto area in southwestern Japan on July 28. The earthquake, which has killed at least 13 people and destroyed buildings, roads, and power supplies, has also made a mark on the auto industry.
Automotive News reports that while Toyota and Nissan's plants, which are located about 93 miles away from the epicenter, weren't directly affected, supply chain issues and safety concerns in the surrounding area led to the decision to temporarily shut down operations. This could mean limited supply of certain Lexus and Nissan models in the United States.
2026 Lexus ES
About 90 percent of Lexus vehicles that come out of Toyota's Miyata assembly plant are exported to other countries, Toyota's website says, including the United States. The ES sedan, RX compact SUV, and UX and NX subcompact SUVs are all manufactured at the Miyata plant and shipped to the United States. Nissan's affected plants produce the Infiniti QX80 and the Nissan Armada, among other vehicles sold in global markets.
Toyota originally suspended operations at its three plants for one shift after the quake on Tuesday. After attempting to restart on Wednesday morning, it announced a suspension until Friday, which will impact production for its engine, hybrid powertrain, and Lexus assembly plants.
Toyota's three-day shutdown applies to all lines and will likely cause around 5200 units of lost vehicle output, according to AN. Nissan's shutdown, which began Wednesday, is less severe and only affects certain lines, though its end date is unknown.
2026 Infiniti QX80
Nissan specifically cited issues with parts availability for its partial shutdown. The Kumamoto area is also home to auto parts manufacturers that supply Toyota and Nissan, and any damages or shutdowns within those companies could have lasting effects on Toyota and Nissan's final output abilities, even with fully functional plants. AN says at least two parts suppliers have already suspended operations.
While Toyota and Nissan's factories appear to be unaffected, supplier shutdowns and nearby infrastructure damage could cause longer-lasting supply and delivery issues. A few days likely won't have a huge impact on vehicle quantities in the United States, but prolonged periods of supply chain issues in the aftermath of the earthquake could be troublesome, especially considering that a substantial chunk of Lexus' U.S. lineup comes from Toyota's Miyata plant.
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Alayna Wilkening grew up reading motorsport magazines and following her grandpa around his Chevrolet dealership's showroom floor. In true Hoosier fashion, her first car was a hot pink custom cardboard "Fiero-vette" for her kindergarten Kindy 500 race. She now autocrosses a 1994 Miata with her dad, which she learned to drive the night before her first event. Alayna went to Indiana University and graduated with a degree in journalism and a minor in graphic design. As a testament to her great taste in cars, her first real one was a metallic orange 2007 Chevy HHR, which she lovingly called "The Dumptruck."