Toyota Halts Production at Three Plants After Supplier Explosion

Toyota has suspended operations at three production lines across two assembly plants in Aichi Prefecture due to an explosion at a supplier's facility, which resulted in one death and several injuries. The explosion occurred on March 6 at a plant operated by Chuo Spring Company Ltd., affecting the production of suspension parts. This incident has led to halting operations at the Takaoka and Nagakusa plants, which produce the RAV4 and Harrier SUVs, with additional suspensions now impacting the Daihatsu factory in Kyoto. The duration of these production stoppages remains uncertain as Toyota assesses the situation. This incident follows a previous explosion at the same Chuo Spring facility in October 2023, which had led to similar production halts. The disruptions highlight vulnerabilities in even the most robust supply chains in the automotive sector.