Every automaker worldwide will be affected by the disaster in Japan by late April, according to a report issued March 21, by automotive forecasters IHS Global Insight of Northville.
Michael Robinet, IHS’s Director of Automotive Forecast reports “It is not a matter of if, but when,” in an analysis of the impact of the disaster that halted domestic vehicle production and affected the parts supply chain.
IHS calculates Japan’s lost production at a minimum of 337,000 vehicles by the end of this week, because all plants in that country have been idled since the earthquake and 450,000 by the end of March, if all remain closed. The daily production loss is about 37,000 cars and trucks.