automobile

Toyota Motor Corp (NYSE:TM) has received 52,000 orders for the new Prius hybrid minivan in Japan, only one month after its launch. The new model, called the Prius Alpha had an initial sales target of 3,000, set by the company. The

The company said Friday it is extending the production cuts through at least May 6th, and it expects more disruptions beyond that.

The slowdowns could reduce output in the period by as much as 50%, and are likely to cause a shortage of Honda vehicles in a matter of weeks.

Honda's Japanese factories are running at half capacity, and the President of the company said it could take months t

Honda Motor Co (NYSE:HMC) said it will slow down production at its 11 North American factories into at least early May because of the ongoing parts shortage from Japanese earthquake-damaged factories.

The original lease of land and a large-scale vehicle manufacturing expansion at the company's Xi'an Plants were halted September 30, 2010 by the Ministry, fining BYD for premature construction in an "agriculturally-zoned" area.

China's Ministry of Land and Resources officially sold 86 acres of land to BYD Co., the Chinese carmaker part-owned by billionaire Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A), in an open public bidding for industrial expansio

Industry analysts say it could take until summer before factories are back at full output.

Japan is the second-largest supplier of cars in the world, and is also a major parts producer. The impact of the earthquake is already causing production cuts in other countries, including the U.S.

Honda (NYSE:HMC) and Mazda said they will resume limited production at several Japanese factories in April, but full production will depend on the availability of parts, which is another sign that the Japanese auto industry is sta

The Carmaker said the planned production halt at its 12 factories in the country would reduce output by 40,000 vehicles.

The company produced over 234,000 cars in January in Japan, where it manufactures 38% of its cars.

One major question is the condition of a plant operated jointly with Panasonic near Sendai, Japan, the city hardest hit by the quake and tsunami, which produces 200,000 EV batteries annually.

This is a huge deal for the Prius model, a

Toyota Motor Co (NYSE:TM) said on Monday that it plans to suspend all production of its vehicles in Japan until Wednesday March 16th.