A reported cyberattack on Toyota supplier Kojima Industries Corp. has led to a full-day shutdown of the automaker’s Japanese factories, according to Reuters. The Japanese government has announced an immediate investigation into the attack, which comes just a day after Japan introduced new sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Today’s shutdown hits 14 factories, and will displace 13,000 cars of output for Toyota. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the government investigation would determine the source of the attack. “It is difficult to say whether this has anything to do with Russia before making thorough checks,” the PM told reporters via Reuters, deflecting presumptions of retribution for Sunday’s sanctions announcement.
Japan Sanctions Russia
So, today’s cyberattack is not yet confirmed to be a retaliation from Russia for new sanctions imposed on it by the global community, including Japan, but the timing sure is suspect. The Prime Minister previously announced on Sunday, February 27, that Japan would join the U.S. and other world nations in blocking Russian banks from major international payment systems. Japan also offered $100 million in “emergency funding” to Ukraine, which has been under siege by a Russian invasion since last week.
Which Toyota Models?
Toyota and its affiliated suppliers and companies, including Daihatsu, Hino Motors, and Kojima Industries Corp., had to shut down their 14 home manufacturing locations, throwing off various production schedules by thousands of cars. Production lines affected seem to include the Toyota Crown, Century, Mirai, Yaris, Corolla, Corolla Cross, C-HR, Hiace, Rav4, 4Runner, Land Cruiser, and Prius, according to the list of what’s manufactured and where on Toyota’s website.
It’s also unclear if the issue is over, and the stall could continue into tomorrow or go longer, a company spokesperson informed Reuters. Earlier this month, trucker protests along the U.S.-Canada border disrupted Toyota’s North American parts supply chain, on top of the industry-wide component shortages. It’s still unclear precisely how wide-ranging the impact the war, and any continuing cyberattacks, will disrupt global supply and manufacturing, but it will be bad.
As we spelled out last week, Russia is a major manufacturing and sales resource for many global automakers, and Ukraine is a leading supplier in rare and raw materials, all of which is now completely disrupted, if not shut off to the rest of the world. A continuing conflict will have significant long-term effects on production, logistics, and special componentry like EV battery cells and superconductors, which are already tightly supply limited as it is.
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