Japanese car manufacturer Toyota has said on Tuesday that due to the error in the system, he Japan I have stopped work in 12 of my 14 factories but it doesn’t seem like a cyber attack.
The world’s largest automaker has declined to discuss further details of the incident, which occurred on Tuesday morning.
A spokesman for Toyota has told the French news agency AFP that “parts orders are not being processed in the 12 factories where 25 lines were affected.”
He said that at this time we believe that this is not a cyber attack. We will investigate the cause of this issue and restore it as soon as possible.’
It is not immediately clear when production will return to normal. He also did not say whether overseas factories were affected or not.
The Toyota factory in the southern Kyushu region and the Daihatsu factory in Kyoto are still operating, the spokesman said.
A spokesman for Toyota Motors Corporation told the British news agency Reuters that the cause of the malfunction was being investigated at a dozen vehicle assembly plants. It is not yet known how much production has been affected.
The news led to a sell-off in Toyota shares, which fell 0.64 percent to 2,421 yen.
Last year, Toyota had to suspend operations at all its local factories following a cyber attack.
It is one of the most important and valuable companies in Japan and its manufacturing activities have a huge impact on the country’s economy.
Toyota is known for its efficiency and ‘just in time’ production systems.
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The auto industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and the global chip crisis, but the world’s largest automaker posted the highest global sales in 2022 for the third year in a row.
Toyota had targeted an annual net profit of 2.58 trillion yen ($17.6 billion), up 5.2 percent year-on-year, and set a target of 38 trillion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2024.
Automakers are enjoying a strong boost in global demand as manufacturing activity picks up again after a slowdown due to the coronavirus.
A severe shortage of semiconductors led to limited production capacity for a range of products ranging from automobiles to smartphones.
Toyota has said chip supplies are improving and has worked with suppliers to raise product prices and normalize production.
However, the delivery of the new vehicles to the customers by the company is still delayed.
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#System #failure #suspends #work #Toyota #factories #Japan
**Interview with Akira Tanaka, Automotive Industry Analyst**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Akira. Let’s dive right into the recent news regarding Toyota. The company has faced a significant factory shutdown due to what they describe as “insufficient disk space.” What does this incident reveal about the vulnerabilities in modern manufacturing systems?
**Akira Tanaka:** Thank you for having me. What we are seeing with Toyota highlights the intricate relationship between technology and manufacturing. In today’s industry, reliance on digital systems means that even a small technical issue—like insufficient disk space—can lead to major operational disruptions. It’s a reminder that while technology brings efficiency, it also demands rigorous maintenance and management.
**Editor:** The spokesman mentioned that they do not believe this incident is a cyber attack. How critical is it for companies like Toyota to distinguish between system malfunctions and potential cybersecurity threats?
**Akira Tanaka:** It’s crucial. Misidentifying a cyber attack could lead to unwarranted panic among stakeholders, including investors and customers. By clarifying that this is a technical issue, Toyota aims to reassure the market and mitigate the impact on its stock price—and we saw that immediate response with the slight decline in their shares. Additionally, transparency in such communications helps maintain trust, a vital component for a company of Toyota’s stature.
**Editor:** This shutdown has affected 12 of Toyota’s 14 factories in Japan, but their operations overseas seem unaffected. How might this incident impact Toyota’s global supply chain?
**Akira Tanaka:** While the immediate impact appears confined to domestic operations, any prolonged disruption could ripple through the global supply chain. For example, if parts are not available due to the shutdown, that could delay production processes elsewhere. With Toyota being a key player in the automotive sector, their operational health is integral to many suppliers and downstream manufacturers worldwide.
**Editor:** Given Toyota’s influence in the Japanese economy, what broader implications could this situation entail?
**Akira Tanaka:** Toyota’s manufacturing activities significantly contribute to Japan’s economic landscape. A disruption in their production could have downstream effects, affecting supplier businesses, employment, and even the stock market. The incident may serve as a wake-up call for the industry to invest more in robust IT systems and contingency plans to protect against such vulnerabilities.
**Editor:** with last year’s cyber attack still fresh in memory, what steps should Toyota take to prevent future occurrences?
**Akira Tanaka:** Toyota needs to conduct a thorough review of its IT infrastructure and data management practices. Implementing more rigorous security protocols and regular maintenance checks, along with a comprehensive risk assessment that includes both cyber threats and technical errors, would be wise. Additionally, investing in employee training to ensure proper use and understanding of the systems can also help mitigate these risks.
**Editor:** Thank you, Akira, for your insights on this critical issue facing Toyota and the automotive industry at large.
**Akira Tanaka:** Thank you for having me. It’s vital that we keep an eye on how companies adapt and learn from these challenges.
