Financial Times: GM, Toyota Stockpile Parts In Case Of War

NEW YORK February 23,2003; Dow Jones reported that the FT said that General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. have told their component suppliers in Asia

and Japan to stockpile spare parts in Europe in case an invasion of Iraq leads to disruption of shipping through the Suez canal.

According to the report, which cited company spokesmen, GM has ordered its suppliers to hold 10 days' extra supply of parts shipped from Asia.

Toyota is stockpiling a few days' extra parts and vehicles in case shipping has to diverted from the Suez canal around South Africa, according to the report.