Subaru stops car production amidst Typhoon Hagibis

MANILA: Subaru halted their operations at the Gunma factory shortly after Typhoon Hagibis ravaged the country. The Japanese automaker was spared, but its major suppliers were not as lucky. Subaru is currently experiencing a shortage of parts after suppliers were affected by floods. This could mean that fewer Subaru cars will be available in the market.

Typhoon Hagibis made landfall on the Izu Peninsula, southwest Tokyo, last Saturday night. Japan is no stranger to typhoons. But after leaving a trail of destruction, it became clear that this was one of Japan's deadliest.

The typhoon caused severe flooding and landslides throughout the country. According to recent estimates by Japan's Cabinet Office and The Fire and Disaster Management Agency, nearly 10,000 homes were flooded, and over 5,000 people are now homeless.
As the typhoon made its way to Japan last Saturday, Subaru lessened their operating hours. The contingency plan paid off – the plant was not damaged by rains or wind, and no employees were injured.

After returning to their normal schedule on Monday, the automaker soon realized they lacked the supplies needed to assemble cars. To cut their losses, Subaru closed its factory in Ota, Gunma Prefecture, and suspended its production. As it turns out, some of Subaru's biggest suppliers were flooded.

The Gunma factory is the sole production plant of Subaru. It produces about 2,500 units each day. Until it re-opens, expect a shortage of Subaru cars in Japan, the Philippines, and other Asian markets. North America won't experience any shortage since there's a factory in the United States that continues to operate.

Subaru has been offering support and staff to their suppliers who had been damaged by the typhoon. The company aims to resume car production by October 25. However, this could still change with further notice depending on the availability of parts and suppliers.
Currently, Subaru is assessing how the plant shutdown has affected its production schedule and finances. Apart from Subaru, Mitsubishi Corporation also had to halt operations at its Kawasaki plant temporarily. Their suppliers also sustained damages from Typhoon Hagibis.

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