Toyota to halt operations at all Japan plants as typhoon precaution

APD NEWS

text

Toyota Motor Corp will suspend operations at all of its assembly plants in Japan, including those of its subsidiaries, from Monday morning as a precautionary measure due to a powerful typhoon that is approaching Japan’s mainland, according to Reuters.

Tens of thousands across Japan were advised to evacuate, hundreds of flights were canceled and rail services were disrupted on Sunday as heavy rain and wind lashed a wide swathe of the country.

Japan’s national broadcaster NHK and other media said on Friday that the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC) was conducting onsite inspections at the company.

Major Japanese automakers and other companies have confirmed they have used Kobe Steel products affected by fake inspection data, but say they have found no safety concerns so far

The investigations by automakers, aircraft manufacturers and other customers of Kobe Steel follow the company’s disclosure earlier this month which said inspections data on a slew of products was faked or manipulated.

The extent of the problem is unclear because Kobe Steel has not identified by name the customers affected, and it is still investigating the problem.

The company later admitted to also falsified inspection data on iron powder and multiple other products, with problematic products sold to some 500 companies globally.

The misconduct ensnared a wide range of Japanese manufacturers, dealing a blow to the "Made in Japan" brand, as the problematic products have been used in cars, aircraft, Shinkansen bullet trains, and even rockets and defense equipment.

(CGTN)