Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. has been affected by the earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, which struck on March 11, 2011, suffering damages to buildings and facilities at the Sawa Works in Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Pref., and at the Fukushima Works in Date-gun, Fukushima Pref. Most of the repairs to production facilities of both these works have been completed as a result of having devoted all of our energies toward early recovery, and we would like to report on the status.
Following recovery of production facilities at the Fukushima Works, most of the repairs to production facilities at the Sawa Works were also completed at the end of last week. We will gradually increase items to be in production and shipments that have already begun.
Although some concerns remain with regard to the stability of electric power and the availability of certain components and materials, we will further accelerate our response measures, and devote all of our energies toward ensuring a continued supply of products.
There are also concerns regarding the effects of the earthquake on production at other Hitachi Automotive Systems facilities, for example due to the stability of electric power and the status of supply from material and component manufacturers, but we will keep implementing response measures to deal with each situation as it arises.
Several of the manufacturers that supply essential parts to Hitachi Automotive Systems have also suffered substantial damages from the earthquake and tsunami. Some of these manufacturers' facilities have been rendered inoperable due to their close proximity to the Fukushima nuclear power stations. We will keep investigating a wide range of measures and implementing these measures as the need arises.
