July 22, 2007	Sunday	Rajab 06, 1428

TOKYO, July 21: All of Japan's eight carmakers have announced short-term plans to suspend production at all or some domestic factories after the country's top supplier of piston rings was hit by an earthquake on July 16.

Riken said on Friday it would resume partial production and shipments on Monday, but that full resumption would take time.

Automakers are assessing production plans on a day-to-day basis. Lost production is due to be made up at later dates.

Toyota Motor Corp. suspended production for half a day on Thursday and all day on Friday output at all 12 of its domestic car and parts factories, and seven affiliates that also build Toyota-brand cars, including Toyota Auto Body Co. and Kanto Auto Works Ltd.

On Saturday, it decided to extend the suspension to Monday.

Plans beyond Tuesday will be decided on Sunday. Toyota had put the total impact for suspended output on Thursday and Friday at an estimated 26,000 units.

Honda Motor Co. will stop all production at its three car assembly plants, including the mini-vehicle plant at unit Yachiyo Industry Co. Two other factories will partially halt output of motorcycles and minivehicle engines.

Nissan Motor Co. will suspend production at all six of its domestic plants on Monday and Tuesday, including that of affiliate Nissan Shatai Co. That extends a suspension at Nissan Shatai on Friday and part of Thursday, and at Nissan's Oppama and Tochigi plants on Friday.

Mazda Motor Corp. will cancel production at its Honsha and Hofu factories on Saturday. On Monday, only one shift will work at the Hofu plant while the Honsha plant will be shut down for the whole day.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will close its Mizushima factory from Friday through Monday, while two other factories will close from Saturday to Monday.

Suzuki Motor Corp. suspended production at five domestic factories, including two car assembly plants, for three days starting Thursday. That will entail a production loss of about 10,000 cars and 5,000 motorcycles.

It said on Friday production would resume at three factories making motorcycles, motorcycle engines, marine and casting equipment on Monday.

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the maker of Subaru cars, will halt its mini-vehicle line from Thursday's second shift until Saturday, the equivalent of 1,500 units.

Daihatsu Motor Co., Toyota's mini-vehicle unit, is closing all four of its domestic factories on Thursday afternoon and all of Friday, involving around 5,000 to 6,000 units of lost production.

—Reuters