Japanese automaker Mazda announced that it will be suspending operations at its two facilities in Japan for two days in April, on account of parts shortages.
Mazda's production operations in Japan will come to a halt on April 4 and 5
According to a Reuters report, the company will be stopping production operations at its Hiroshima and Yamaguchi factories on April 4 and 5, 2022. The company was quoted as saying that a surge in COVID-19 cases in mainland China is one of the factors behind an expected shortfall in components.
The announcement comes in the aftermath of a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan off the coast of the Fukushima region last March 16, killing at least four people and injuring dozens. Thousands of Japanese citizens were left without power, including those in the capital of Tokyo.
Mazda’s Hiroshima plant manufactures the CX-30 subcompact and CX-9 midsize crossovers as well as the MX-5 roadster, all of which are exported to the Philippines. It also manufactures the Fiat 124 Spider for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles under Stellantis.
A number of models stands to be affected, including those for the Philippine market
Meanwhile, the Hofu factory in Yamaguchi Prefecture is responsible for assembling the Mazda 3 compact sedan and hatchback along with the Mazda 6 midsize sedan and CX-3 subcompact crossover. No details were given as to how many units will be affected by the work stoppage.
Mazda previously reported that its Japanese production output decreased by 2 percent in January 2022 compared to the same month in 2021. There were only 9,867 Mazda3 units and 5,997 CX-30 units produced in the first month of the year, representing a drop of 13.3 percent and 20.6 percent, respectively. Only the CX-5 ended up with 33,636 units for the period, an increase of 22.8 percent.
The automaker has assured its dealers and customers that the suspension will have no effect on the automaker’s other facilities, notably the Mazda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (MMSB) plant in Kulim and the AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) in Rayong. This means that the Philippine market will still receive stocks of the Mazda 2 small hatchback, as well as the CX-5 compact and CX-8 midsize crossovers.
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