Fire Causes Toyota to Looks to Non-Group Suppliers for Brake Parts

02/05/97

Nikkei English News reports that Toyota Motor asked Akebono Brake Industry Co., Nabco Ltd., and other brake makers to supply it with various brake-system parts. Toyota turned to suppliers outside its own group when it faced a parts shortage because of a fire on Saturday at the plant of its affiliated brake maker, Aisin Seiki Co.

The fire took place at Aisin Seiki's Kariya factory in Aichi Prefecture, Toyota's only source for the 480,000 proportioning valves for brake systems it uses each month.

Both Akebono and Nabco said they would accept Toyota's request for parts, although they would have to work out details of timing and quantity. Mitsubishi, which also depended on the Aisin plant, also asked Nabco for parts.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel