Japanese Marques - short/long term problem?
Discussion
Watching the news today, all the major Japanese car manufacturers have halted production following Friday's quake. Got me wondering:
- will it push used Nissan/Toyota/Mitsu etc prices down?
- what effect will it have on new sales of those?
- will there be a spares problem?
I know some of it is made in the UK - spares as well though? Just something to mull over!
- will it push used Nissan/Toyota/Mitsu etc prices down?
- what effect will it have on new sales of those?
- will there be a spares problem?
I know some of it is made in the UK - spares as well though? Just something to mull over!
The Crack Fox said:
Speculating about used car prices seems a bit distasteful in the current situation in my opinion...
I think you're being a bit over sensitive there chap.The situation will be being discussed in board rooms the world over, from the manufacturers and component suppliers through to the dealer networks and the shipping companies right down to the small dealers and they owners of the sandwich shops near these suppliers.
The Crack Fox said:
Maybe. Just watching the news, 10'000+ dead. The price of Micra seems pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. 10'000 people.
We've covered this in the general motorsport forum already. Consensus seems to be that it is a motoring forum, and that we are able to sympathise and be concerned for those in Japan and have other related discussions at the same time. The Crack Fox said:
Maybe. Just watching the news, 10'000+ dead. The price of Micra seems pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. 10'000 people.
No insensitivity intended, merely inferred; hopefully not in the cause of seeking keyboard greatness. My question is in a similar vein to anything else, motor-related or not, which might be a side/knock-on effect. The loss of life and infrastructure is terrible, but only after that sinks in will people start to consider what else might happen as a result.
Here's another: "I wonder why the nuclear power plants were not designed to deal with a sudden loss of cooling infrastructure, and whether any fallout will reach other countries?"
Capisce?
I´ve been visiting and living in Japan for over 20 years. At the time of the Kobe earthquake I was living across the water in Korea and visiting Japan every month or so. That earthquake, because it occurred in a major industrial area, did have a major impact on the auto manufacturers, in large part because it put Kobe Steel out of action. The specialist steels we were buying from Kobe Steel were no longer available and we had to resort to flying in steel from the UK to keep the lines running.
This earthquake/tsunami has not occurred in a major industrial area, in my view risks are of short term financial instability and power shortages caused by the loss in nuclear generating capacity. Possibly Japan will be in for a peroid of rolling blackout somewhat similar to those experienced in the UK at the time of the "winter of discontent". And yes I am old enough to remember that....
This earthquake/tsunami has not occurred in a major industrial area, in my view risks are of short term financial instability and power shortages caused by the loss in nuclear generating capacity. Possibly Japan will be in for a peroid of rolling blackout somewhat similar to those experienced in the UK at the time of the "winter of discontent". And yes I am old enough to remember that....
C8PPO said:
Here's another: "I wonder why the nuclear power plants were not designed to deal with a sudden loss of cooling infrastructure, and whether any fallout will reach other countries?"
Capisce?
O capitoCapisce?
Events may prove me wrong but I think that to date the reactors are holding up pretty well considering what has happened to them.
These particular reactors are nearly 40 years old and represent not only the technology of that time but also the attitude to risk. From what I have learned over the last few days reactors of that era are dependant on the continuing flow of cooling water even after they have been shutdown. Reactors being built these days are able to disipate the heat through natural convection once shutdown and are not, therefore, dependant on the integrity of a water cooling system and it´s demand for a stable power supply.
It would be interesting if a PH nuclear engineer could chime in and comment.
Rich_W said:
Almost certainly not. Don't forget that in Tokyo aside from the odd power outage everything is fine still.
And the Japs manufacture cars in the EU to avoid the Import rules. And to give lazy brits a piss easy job to do.
Toyota got a memo yesterday saying they had halted production at 12 factories, I think 3 of the factories have been damaged.And the Japs manufacture cars in the EU to avoid the Import rules. And to give lazy brits a piss easy job to do.
Shutting down the factories also has a couple of other local benefits in that:
a) It saves power consumption when energy resources are scarce.
b) Allows the roads to be kept clearer to allow emergencty services etc. to be able to concentrate on rescue efforts rather than also have to keep an eye on what's happening in the rest of the country if everyone tried to carry on as normal.
c) Allows people to be with their families rather than having to worry about 9:5 jobs.
Also, what's the point of producing cars, the majority for export, if ports are either damaged or being used heavily to receive foreign aid.
It'll be short term shut-downs & will have negligable effect on prices.
a) It saves power consumption when energy resources are scarce.
b) Allows the roads to be kept clearer to allow emergencty services etc. to be able to concentrate on rescue efforts rather than also have to keep an eye on what's happening in the rest of the country if everyone tried to carry on as normal.
c) Allows people to be with their families rather than having to worry about 9:5 jobs.
Also, what's the point of producing cars, the majority for export, if ports are either damaged or being used heavily to receive foreign aid.
It'll be short term shut-downs & will have negligable effect on prices.
insanojackson said:
the top of the range juke is made in japan, partner is waiting on hers which was to be delivered in may, thing is her current car is going the distance in 2 weeks so i hope hers is not delayed much by this terrible disaster.
Automatic Jukes and Qashqais were subject to very long delays due to difficulties with some gearbox components prior to this disaster.We were notified yesterday by Toyota that they are suspending production.
It's a fair subject to discuss, we've had customers who are waiting for Lexus hybrids wanting to know what's happening - as yet no news but there'll certainly be problems from all of this.
Terrible event.
C8PPO said:
Here's another: "I wonder why the nuclear power plants were not designed to deal with a sudden loss of cooling infrastructure, and whether any fallout will reach other countries?"
The simple answer is: they are and it won't. Most of the mainstream media is reporting Fukushima as being hours away from being the next Chernobyl, some more realistic reporting in the following links.http://mitnse.com/2011/03/13/why-i-am-not-worried-...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/14/fukushiima...
Edit: This morning's news does look a bit more worrying http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12740843
Edited by cbcbcb on Tuesday 15th March 09:39
Efbe said:
Urban Sports said:
What level of radiation will anything imported from japan contain?
Worst case, will people getting a new imported car be at risk from radiation?
A sensitive subject but a question many people will want answering.
Are you simple?Worst case, will people getting a new imported car be at risk from radiation?
A sensitive subject but a question many people will want answering.
rottie102 said:
Urban Sports said:
What level of radiation will anything imported from japan contain?
Worst case, will people getting a new imported car be at risk from radiation?
A sensitive subject but a question many people will want answering.
Seriously???Worst case, will people getting a new imported car be at risk from radiation?
A sensitive subject but a question many people will want answering.
I reckon they will, even if it doesn't get any worse.
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