Just like that, Japan’s supply chain is in turmoil. An explosion on Thursday at Chuo Spring Co. in Toyota City has sent shockwaves through the industry, tragically claiming one life, injuring two others, and forcing Toyota to hit the brakes on RAV4 production. The Toyota RAV4 has been a popular offering for some time, but has recently really skyrocketed to its place as one of America’s most popular vehicles in recent years.
Toyota Workers Experience Catastrophic Accident in Japan
The explosion came from a dust collector on the production line. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation by local authorities. The facility under investigation makes suspension springs, precision springs and cables used in parking brakes and automatic transmissions.
Toyota, never one to take disruptions lightly, has swiftly responded. According to Automotive News, the automaker will shut down three production lines across two plants for the first shift on Monday, March 10, with plans to reassess the situation after that. The Harrier—Japan’s version of the Toyota Venza—is also caught in the crossfire. How long will the pause last? That’s anyone’s guess.
How Will The Explosion Affect American RAV4s?
And if you’re sitting in the U.S. thinking this doesn’t concern you—think again. Despite Toyota’s facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, Toyota still imported 21 percent of the RAV4s sold in the States last year. A prolonged stoppage could spell delays and dwindling dealer stock for one of the most popular crossovers in the States, which outsold the venerable Ford F-150 in 2024 with an impressive figure of 475,193 units. Toyota isn’t ready to say if this will impact exports, but history suggests these things take time to resolve.
TopSpeed’s Take
This isn’t Toyota’s first rodeo with supply chain chaos. Back in October 2023, another supplier explosion led to an even more dramatic shutdown: eight plants, 13 production lines, and 10 days offline. And just months before that, an unspecified glitch forced all 14 of Toyota’s Japanese assembly plants to grind to a halt.
For now, Toyota is playing it safe, pausing production and assessing the damage. But one thing is clear: in the delicate world of just-in-time manufacturing, even a single spark can set off a conflagration.
Source: Toyota, Motor1
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