An earthquake in Japan could affect semiconductor chip availability, CNBC reported last week.
Renesas Electronics, a major semiconductor chip supplier, was affected by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake last week, as was Toyota Motor, CNBC reported.
Renesas, which CNBC stated makes nearly a third of the microcontroller chips used in cars globally, operates three plants close to the earthquake’s epicenter, according to the company. The supplier stated it will attempt to restart the plants and return them to pre-earthquake production volumes by Wednesday.
Citing research firm LMC Automotive, CNBC stated the earthquake could lower vehicle production between 25,000 and 35,000 this year.
Toyota suspended operations at more than half its Japanese plants because of the earthquake. Toyota stated 18 production lines at 11 plants would cease production for three days next week because of supply problems.
“Due to the parts shortage resulting from suppliers affected by the earthquakes, additional adjustments will be made to production operations in some plants in Japan as follows,” Toyota stated.
Subaru also reported it would suspend production at three plants because of supply shortages resulting from the earthquake.
