According to Automotive News, a recent series of earthquakes in southwest Japan that have killed more than 40 people and injured more than 1,000 have caused Toyota to shut down a great deal of its vehicle production in the country.
The publication stated:
The first of the latest quakes, a 6.2-magnitude temblor, struck the night of April 14. A second stronger one, measuring 7.0 magnitude, rattled the area again early Saturday morning.
Toyota’s new suspensions, announced April 17, affect flagship production plants in the Aichi area around Toyota’s headquarters, as well as plants in northern and western Japan.
These tragedies come only months after an explosion at an Aichi Steel Corp. factory in Aichi prefecture, Toyota’s home region and main production base, impacted supplies of steel used in engines, gearboxes, and chassis. As a result of these latest earthquakes, production of the Lexus RX and NX, and Toyota RAV4 will be suspended. The same goes for the Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, as well as the Lexus ES, IS, GS, and LS sedans. The RC and CT are also on the list, as are the Scion tC and xB.
Various automotive parts suppliers and Toyota competitors in the country have also been forced to temporarily shut down their operations. More than 10 Toyota factories will be affected by April 23. The company will try to decide by April 20 whether it can resume production starting on April 25.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
