Nissan to Restart Production at Five Japanese Plants After Earthquake
Nissan will resume operations at five domestic plants from 21 March, though output may remain limited and engine production at Iwaki faces further delays.
Nissan Motor Co. will restart production at five of its Japanese plants on Monday, 21 March, following the earthquake and tsunami that severely disrupted the country’s automotive sector. The company confirmed it will begin operations at its Oppama, Tochigi, Yokohama, Kyushu and Nissan Shatai facilities, though production is expected to be constrained by ongoing parts shortages and infrastructure challenges.
The decision to restart comes just over a week after the disaster struck Japan’s northeast, forcing automakers to suspend operations nationwide. Nissan’s move is one of several early signs that the country’s manufacturing sector is beginning to recover, though the company cautioned that it may be several months before inventories and supply chains return to normal levels.
Iwaki Engine Plant Faces Extended Shutdown
While most of Nissan’s domestic vehicle assembly lines will restart, the company’s engine plant in Iwaki, Fukushima, remains a critical bottleneck. The facility is located near the damaged nuclear power station and suffered significant disruption. The plant manufactures V6 engines for several Nissan models, and the company said it is still “trying to restore operations” there. Restarting the Iwaki plant is expected to take longer than the other sites, and this could restrict the supply of V6-powered vehicles for both domestic and export markets.
Production Constraints and Supply Chain Recovery
Nissan said it will not be able to run its production lines at full capacity immediately. Parts shortages, damaged infrastructure and disrupted logistics continue to hamper the entire Japanese automotive supply chain. The company has prioritised the production of repair parts for overseas assembly, but the broader recovery of vehicle output will depend on the restoration of suppliers and transport networks.
Industry analysts expect that Japanese automakers, including Nissan, will face ongoing challenges as they attempt to bring plants back online. The impact of the earthquake has already led to extended shutdowns across the sector, with some manufacturers warning that global supply could be affected for months. For Nissan, the focus remains on stabilising domestic operations before ramping up exports or launching new models.
Impact on Vehicle Availability and Exports
The prolonged shutdown at Iwaki and other supply chain disruptions are likely to affect the availability of certain Nissan models, particularly those requiring V6 engines. Dealers and customers in export markets may experience delays or limited stock until full production resumes. Nissan’s recovery efforts are being closely watched by other automakers and suppliers, as the company’s progress will influence the pace at which the wider Japanese motor industry can return to pre-quake output levels.
For more on how the earthquake has affected the global automotive supply chain, seeGM halts Shreveport pickup production after Japan quake disrupts parts supply.
