Autoblog

Harley-Davidson lost in Japan's tsunami washes up in Canada

Noah Joseph — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Japan, Videos, Motorcycle, Canada

With the longest coastline in the world, Canada is bound to get all sorts of weird things washing up on its shores from every which direction. But a Harley-Davidson motorcycle? That's what one Peter Mark found while riding his ATV on a secluded island off the Pacific coast of British Columbia. Its origin? Japan.

The bike - enclosed along with other random items in what appears to be the compartment off a moving truck - appears to have traveled some 3,000 miles across the North Pacific from Japan's Miyagi Prefecture to the Canadian province of British Columbia. That's where Mark found it, rusted but recognizable inside the white cube that was apparently washed out to sea by the tsunami that struck the island nation one year ago.

The finder of the piece of iron driftwood left it where he found it and contacted the Japanese consulate in Vancouver which is trying to track down the original owner whose fate remains unknown. Scroll down to watch the fascinating video report.

Continue reading Harley-Davidson lost in Japan's tsunami washes up in Canada

Harley-Davidson lost in Japan's tsunami washes up in Canada originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reputation of electric cars takes a hit in Japan due to tsunami aftermath?

Autoblog Staff — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Japan

Electric vehicle owners like to think of themselves as green, but that color may be taking on a more glowing, radioactive hue in Japan.

The ecologically friendly reputation of electric cars in Japan is taking a hit since last year's meltdowns of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant have made more people concerned about a primary source of electricity throughout the country, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.

The meltdown - caused my last March's earthquake and ensuing tsunami - created a 12-mile radius around Fukushima where people are barred because of radiation issues. Before last year's disaster, the Japanese government planned on having nuclear power eventually supply half of the country's electricity, up from a third, but those plans have been put on hold.

Nissan, which has said it expects to sell 1.5 million electric vehicles around the world by 2015, has sold just 12,000 battery-electric Leafs in Japan since launching the model in 2010, according to the report. There have been positive associations drawn between the EV and its role in the earthquake relief efforts (between the Mitsubishi i and the aftermath, too) and Nissan even touted the way some battery packs that were damaged in the quake survived intact.

Rising gas prices make charging an EV in Japan about 90 percent less expensive than filling a tank. That said, electricity prices may spike expenses stemming from fixing the Fukushima plant increase. The higher cost might be the way EVs could get lumped together with nuclear energy in some consumers' minds.

Reputation of electric cars takes a hit in Japan due to tsunami aftermath? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Street View documents Japan tsunami devastation

Zach Bowman — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:39:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Japan, Technology

The online news cycle moves at a blistering pace. It's easy to forget that, while the story of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami that occurred last March may move from the front page, individuals are still struggling to cope with the widespread devastation on the island.

Google took it upon itself to document the structural destruction in some of the hardest hit areas in its Google Maps Street View function. The tech giant covered more than 27,000 miles to provide a 360-degree imagery archive of the communities that are still reeling from the natural disasters nine months later.

Google has even started a new web site to allow viewers to compare before and after images of specific areas. The Build The Memory site is a stark reminder that, while the world marches on, there's plenty of recovery left in Japan. Head over to the site for a closer look.

Google Street View documents Japan tsunami devastation originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New dashcam footage recovered of Japanese tsunami from wrecked car

Zach Bowman — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Japan, Videos

We've seen some terrifying footage from the tsunami and earthquake that struck Japan in March this year, but few manage to capture the full-on terror of the situation like the clip after the jump. The video was taken by a dash camera mounted on a man's vehicle as the tidal waters surged onto the roadway. Individuals abandon their vehicles, desperately running from the inescapable sea swell, and in moments, debris, cars and people are all helplessly swept up together as the water pushes forward. In a situation like this, it would be impossible to know the correct course of action, but the owner of this particular dash cam wisely chose to stick with the safety of his vehicle for as long as possible.

He was eventually forced out into the rolling seawater as the car began to sink, and used a makeshift raft constructed of his belongings to float to a nearby warehouse. He waited there until the waters subsided and was able later to locate his vehicle and recover this footage. Hit the jump to view the absolutely remarkable video for yourself.

Continue reading New dashcam footage recovered of Japanese tsunami from wrecked car

New dashcam footage recovered of Japanese tsunami from wrecked car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki's emergency quake action plan? Moving

Zach Bowman — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Suzuki

Japanese automakers are continuing to evaluate their strategies for coping with natural disasters after this year's earthquake and tsunami, and for Suzuki, that apparently means packing up shop and moving to higher ground. According to Automotive News, the manufacturer is investing around $494 million to move its factories and research center away from the coastal city of Hamamatsu. The report notes that scientists estimate that there's an 80 percent chance that an 8.0-magnitude earthquake will befall the coastline between Tokyo and Nagoya in the next 30 years, but for Suzuki, the larger concern is radiation contamination associated with a failing nuclear reactor.

Currently, the company's facilities are located near the Hamaoka reactor, which is receiving modifications to protect against the kind of meltdown seen elsewhere in the country. Suzuki plans to purchase around 67 acres of land 6.2 miles from the coast and 30 miles from the reactor for its new complex. It's also investigating new locations both in Japan and abroad for its manufacturing facilities.

Suzuki's emergency quake action plan? Moving originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota says NA production to recover by September, earlier than expected

Zach Bowman — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

Toyota has announced that it expects its North American production to reach 100 percent capacity as early as September - far ahead of original post-quake estimates. So far, eight of the company's 12 models built in North America are back to 100 percent capacity, and total production is hoped to improve by as much as 80 percent by August. In an official press release, Bob Carter, Toyota's group vice president and general manager, says that the progress is thanks to the hard work of individuals both here and in Japan, and that the upcoming months will focus on ramping up output to make up for lost time.

After Japan's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters last March, Toyota wasn't expected to reach full manufacturing capacity in North America until December at the earliest. Click past the break to check out the quick press release.

Continue reading Toyota says NA production to recover by September, earlier than expected

Toyota says NA production to recover by September, earlier than expected originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How GM avoided its own disaster after Japanese quake

Zach Bowman — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, GM

While Toyota has been one of the automakers hardest hit by the tragic Japanese earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters in March of this year, nearly every auto company on the planet felt its impact. Thanks to a global, tight-laced network of interconnected suppliers, manufacturers were left scrambling to make up gaps in the parts chain when Japan's manufacturing mechanism ground to a halt. As it turns out, General Motors took on the challenge of making sure as many of its plants stayed operational as possible by employing a team of hundreds of employees that worked around the clock.

Officially termed "Project J," the workers came up with creative solutions to manage the supply interruptions. As a result, GM says that its bottom line for 2011 won't be significantly impacted by the Japanese earthquake.

In some cases, that meant shifting parts from low-volume plants like the Shreveport, Louisiana facility responsible for the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon to other facilities. GM stressed that it didn't want to simply walk away from its old suppliers in their darkest days, so the automaker sent a team to Japan to learn how it could help get key factories back up and running. That included sourcing hydrogen peroxide and steel from Korea from two different companies.

The whole effort is incredibly impressive and worth a read if you've got the time. Check it out over at The New York Times.

How GM avoided its own disaster after Japanese quake originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus boss Templin says brand to lose luxury sales crown over Japan quake

Chris Shunk — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Lexus, Luxury

Lexus has been the king of luxury car sales in the U.S. for over a decade, but Toyota's high-end brand will likely lose its crown in 2011, due at least in part to the March 11 earthquake in Japan.

Certainly, Lexus was already facing a great deal of pressure from rivals like BMW and Buick, but Automotive News reports that Toyota VP and Lexus Group Manager Mark Templin says dealers are down to a 30-day supply of most models, and that vehicle shortages will be felt as early as this week. The problem is that some key components from Japan come from plants that are still shut down as a result of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The Lexus CT 200h is reportedly close to sold out due to the issues.

Further complicating matters is the fact that Lexus ramped up the leasing business three years ago, and those customers will soon be bringing back their luxury rides in large numbers. That's good news for dealers looking for products to sell, but it's bad for customers who may not have the ability to purchase a new Lexus model.

The automaker is looking to ease this issue by offering six-month lease extensions. At the same time, Templin knows many customers will simply purchase their lease vehicle outright, and he's asking dealers not to gouge those customers. The fear is that a shortage of models will result in more demand than supply, which could then jack up the price of Lexus models to unreasonable levels.

Since the automaker appears to be out of the running for the 2011 luxury sales crown, it seems natural that Lexus will come back with a vengeance in 2012. But Templin says the automaker may never again grab the sales crown, since luxury car makers are aiming down-market to improve corporate fuel economy averages. Templin opines that it won't be long before a luxury car maker hits 500,000 sales in a year.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Lexus boss Templin says brand to lose luxury sales crown over Japan quake originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota drastically cuts North American production through May

Aaron Richardson — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

Toyota will continue its three-days-a-week schedule at North American plants for the rest of April and May, due to continued parts shortages as a result of the March 11 Japan earthquake. Toyota's original production suspension halted lines on Mondays and Fridays from April 15 to April 25, but will be extended to include April 26 to June 3.

When Toyota's U.S. plants are building cars during that period, it will be at 50-percent capacity. Added to the weekly Monday and Friday stoppages, Toyota is suspending production entirely for the week after Memorial Day in the U.S. and the week of May 23rd in Canada, in recognition of Victoria Day. Toyota hasn't said what its plans are for production stoppages past June 3rd.

Despite the enormous production cuts and work stoppages, Toyota has promised there will be no layoffs just yet. According to the company, workers will spend time during production stoppages doing training exercises and "plant improvement activities." By keeping some production going and maintaining its workforce, Toyota is hoping it can make it back to a full production schedule as soon as parts supplies allow. Click past the jump to read the official release from Toyota.

[Source: Toyota | Image: Toshifumi Kitamura]

Continue reading Toyota drastically cuts North American production through May

Toyota drastically cuts North American production through May originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda CEO Takanobu Ito used CB1000 motorcycle to tour quake area

Chris Shunk — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Honda, Motorcycle

The March 11th earthquake and tsunami in Japan hit Honda hard, as production was down for weeks and the automaker's research and development center was badly damaged. In fact, the quake damaged the Tochigi facility so badly that one employee died and 17 others were injured after a cafeteria wall collapsed.

Due to the fact that many roads were closed or badly damaged, getting to the facility was a challenge. But that didn't stop Honda CEO Takanobu Ito from visiting the site in person to assess the damage. The Wall Street Journal reports that Ito hopped on his stripped-down, 1,100cc Honda CB1100 and headed to the site only two days after the incident. The 57-year-old CEO and his trusty bike were able travel where few autos could go, and he made it all the way to the Tochigi facility to witness the damage for himself.

The Tochigi facilities are very important to Honda as they are the company's main research and development centers. The automaker was forced to relocate 1,000 of its engineers to other facilities, but the damaged buildings still house another 500 workers. Ito adds that the automaker will rebuild at the site because it "is a place where all Honda's brains are gathered."

The fact that Ito risked his own safety to check on the welfare of his engineers has no doubt boosted his credibility among Honda employees. And it likely doesn't hurt that he got there on the back of a Honda sport bike. Nicely done, sir.

[Source: Wall Street Journal | Image: Kazuhiro Nogi/Getty]

Honda CEO Takanobu Ito used CB1000 motorcycle to tour quake area originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will quake-based parts shortages hurt 2012 Honda Civic launch?

Chris Shunk — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Honda

2012 Honda Civic Si - Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda's Japanese assembly plants are scheduled to come back online next week after a month-long hiatus caused by the earthquake and tsunami of March 11. That's good news for a company that could soon run short on many vehicles, but Honda's production woes are anything but solved.

TheDetroitBureau.com reports that Honda is also having trouble getting parts from Japan to plants here in the U.S., and the launch of the 2012 Civic could be impacted. The Civic, which is one of the most popular vehicles sold in the U.S., is supposed to begin a phased roll-out on April 20. But with parts trickling in from Japan at a snail's pace, some of the automaker's U.S. factories have experienced production slowdowns and shortened shifts. That means it would be difficult to supply enough '12 Civics to support the model's current sales pace of about 30,000 units per month. The automaker reportedly already has 12,000 Civics ready for delivery, but that number represents less than a two-week supply.

American Honda Executive Vice President John Mendel tells TDB that the situation is "fluid," adding that it "is changing every day." With that in mind, Mendel says that the automaker might not spend as much launch money on marketing out of the gate. Instead, Honda could spend the money over a longer period of time, saving some of the ads for when dealers have proper stock of the latest Civic in showrooms.

We're hoping that Honda's part situation improves in time for launch, but given the current state of the supply chain, we're not all that hopeful. Add in the fact that another 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Japan on Thursday, April 7, and it seems production timing for many vehicles and parts could be in doubt for the foreseeable future.

Gallery: 2012 Honda Civic

[Source: TheDetroitBureau.com]

Will quake-based parts shortages hurt 2012 Honda Civic launch? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Subaru ramping production back up after quake

Chris Shunk — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Hatchback

2011 Subaru Forester - Click above for high-res image gallery

Subaru has, like many other Japanese automakers, struggled to get its factories up and running in the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. But the automaker appears to be making strides towards that goal, as Automotive News reports that the car maker will restart vehicle production Wednesday at its Gumma plant.

The facility produces the Legacy, Forester and Impreza; three vehicles that are very important to the automaker's success in the U.S. Subaru spokesperson Kenta Matsumoto told AN that the plant will run at about half of its typical run rate while the automaker assesses its parts situation. Matsumoto says Subaru has no intention of stopping production now that the plant is coming back online, but added, "The situation with every part isn't entirely clear."

Gallery: 2011 Subaru Forester: Quick Spin

Photos copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Subaru ramping production back up after quake originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japan's new cars sales reportedly plummet to lowest since 1968

Chris Shunk — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Plants/Manufacturing

The March 11 earthquake and tsunami has wreaked havoc on Japanese automakers' ability to build new vehicles, while also shuttering many suppliers that automakers around the world count on for production. Integrity Exports reports the devastating natural disaster has thrown a massive wrench in auto sales as well.

Japan's March auto sales are reportedly the worst they've been since 1968. Overall vehicle sales were down 44.2 percent from the same month in 2010, while sales of all light cars were down a similarly colossal 32.5 percent on the month.

With many Japanese automakers still shut down nearly a month after the quake, we're guessing the sales slump in Japan will continue at least through April, and possibly throughout the summer.

[Source: Integrity Exports | Image: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images]

Japan's new cars sales reportedly plummet to lowest since 1968 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Japanese automakers to discuss rotating schedule of production

Chris Shunk — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Honda, Nissan, Toyota

Automakers in Japan are desperate to restart their factories, but part shortages are in many instances holding up production. But that's not the only issue, as rolling blackouts are making it difficult for the manufacturing sector to maintain steady operation.

USA Today reports that one solution to the problem could be a rotating schedule. Basically, Japan's automakers would alternate which days plants would be open for business. The plan could be as simple as 'Toyota runs on Monday, Honda gets Tuesday, Nissan gets Wednesday and smaller automakers get Thursday.' Alternatively, automakers could alternate shifts on a per-region basis so as not to stress the weakened power grid. Bloomberg reports that automakers will meet soon discuss a rotating schedule.

Japan's all-important auto industry is still early in the process of getting back on track, so we're likely to hear a lot more oddball ideas like a rotating production schedule. Ultimately, automakers will need to get back to full-scale production in the next few weeks, or car buyers around the world (including here in the U.S.) will start to feel the pain.

[Source: USA Today]

Report: Japanese automakers to discuss rotating schedule of production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Auto graveyard business sprouts from Japanese tsunami

Chris Shunk — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Japan, Safety

If you've watched any of the news coverage of the Japan earthquake, you've likely seen the tsunami footage showing cars being tossed around like Hot Wheels. The waterlogged vehicles number in the thousands, and the Japanese government has a big task in cleaning up the mess.

Reuters reports that workers are using construction equipment to lift the vehicles onto trucks, which then take the damaged cars and trucks to auto graveyards in the now-dry flood plains in and around the quake zone. The vehicles are reportedly lined up in sprawling rows, with the license plates all facing the same direction so owners can easily locate their wrecked rides. The workers even have color-coated spray painting that indicates whether the vehicle has a body in it that needs to be removed; a grim reminder of just how tragic this natural disaster was.

Most owners are simply removing any belongings that remain in the car, along with the vehicle's license plate. Removing the plate and having proper registration information will reportedly make it easier for owners of destroyed vehicles to collect insurance for their loss. In the long term, many of these vehicles will likely be crushed after being disassembled for key parts.

[Source: Reuters | Image: Wally Santana/AP]

Report: Auto graveyard business sprouts from Japanese tsunami originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda dealers in U.S. asked not to order cars from Japan

Zach Bowman — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Mazda

Automotive News is reporting that Mazda has suspended U.S. dealers from ordering vehicles made in Japan. The automaker is apparently preparing to close down plants once more after briefly opening doors after the earthquake and tsunami activity on March 11.

This doesn't mean that Mazda vehicles are going to dry up overnight, though. The automaker says that the ordering would only cover vehicles to be allocated for May, and that the company has decent vehicle stockpiles for U.S. buyers. As of right now, there's no indication as to when ordering will resume.

Mazda is reported to have had a 93-day supply of vehicles on dealer lots at the beginning of this month. While that figure is down from a 123-day supply in February, Automotive News says that a 60-day supply is considered normal for the industry. The automaker currently imports the Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, MX-5, RX-8, CX-7, and CX-9 models

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Mazda dealers in U.S. asked not to order cars from Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Update on Japanese automakers recovering from earthquake

Chris Shunk — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Honda, Nissan, Toyota

Prius production resumes, Honda further delays restarting plants

Japanese automaker news resulting from the March 11 earthquake is coming in fast and furious right now, so we've packaged the latest information in one convenient spot.

Toyota announced some good and bad news this week on the production front. The good news is that the company will resume limited production of the Prius, Lexus HS250h and CT 200h hybrids with all-new parts coming in. Eighteen other Toyota plants remain closed, however, through at least March 28, and the automaker has warned its assembly plants in North America that they could soon face parts shortages that interrupt production.

Honda has moved the restart date of its Japanese plants again from March 27 to April 3 or later. Among the vehicles affected are the Fit and CR-V. The company also says its research and development center will be closed for months due to extensive damage. Some of the work being done at the R&D facility has been moved to other Honda facilities in Japan.

Nissan restarted production in Japan on March 24, though the plants are using only existing parts stock with no new parts coming in. The company is studying whether its Tennessee engine plant could supply VQ V6 engines to Japan due to damages sustained at an engine plant in the quake zone. The automaker also lost 1,300 Infiniti models that were damaged at a Japanese port during the quake. CEO Carlos Ghosn claims 40 Japanese suppliers are still in trouble.

Mazda has been running some plants in Japan, though parts are starting to become scarce. The CX-7 and CX-9 are among the vehicles affected.

Subaru has postponed any production in Japan until at least March 28. In the U.S., the automaker has suspended overtime at its Indiana plant.

[Source: Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Automotive News - sub. req. | Image: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara]

Update on Japanese automakers recovering from earthquake originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Worldwide auto production could drop 30% due to quake in Japan

Chris Shunk — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Plants/Manufacturing

You've likely seen plenty of news lately about how Japanese automakers have been affected by the March 11 earthquake in Japan, but what about the rest of the industry? The Detroit News reports that research firm IHS Automotive thinks that global auto production could drop by 30 percent, and nearly every major automaker will be affected.

The key to that dire prediction will be the speed with which Japanese suppliers can get back to making parts for the industry. IHS Vice President Michael Robinet reportedly told DetNews that if suppliers aren't online within six weeks, global vehicle production could drop by 100,000 units per day. With average total production sitting at 280,000 to 300,000 units per day, 100,000 represents about 30 percent of all vehicles built. Robinet adds that if parts don't start coming online quickly, automakers will begin feeling the pinch by mid-April.

IHS points to electronics and transmission components as the most likely to run dry. And that 30-percent figure could morph into 40 percent if automakers can't get replacement parts within eight weeks.

Sobering statistics, indeed. We're thinking automakers are hoping Japan can rebuild factories as quickly (and miraculously) as it can rebuild highways.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Study: Worldwide auto production could drop 30% due to quake in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: U.S. car dealers raising prices because of Japan disaster

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Japan

The problems facing automakers in the wake of Japan's deadly earthquake and the resulting tsunami are already manifesting themselves in the form of higher transaction prices on some Japanese cars, as U.S. dealers show less willingness to negotiate downward from the number on the window sticker, according to an AP report.

Automakers like Toyota, Honda and Nissan all say they have a sufficient supply of vehicles in the U.S. that had already been imported from Japan before the disaster struck. So, if there are still plenty of Japanese cars on Stateside lots, why the hardening prices?

It's a simple case of supply and demand, explain some dealers polled by The Associated Press. "We're going to run out of cars. We had five [Prius hybrids] on the ground yesterday, and I don't know when I'll get another," says Dave Conant, owner of a Toyota dealership in San Diego, CA. "The market has shifted pretty quickly and dramatically."

Of course, some people believe dealerships are just using speculative vehicle shortages to make a few extra bucks. We suspect the truth may be a little bit of both.

[Source: The Associated Press via ABC News | Image: Kiyoshi Ota/Getty]

Report: U.S. car dealers raising prices because of Japan disaster originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch as Japanese motorist's car is engulfed by the tsunami

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Japan

Japanese tsunami footage from inside a car - Click above to watch the video after the break

Modern technology means that the world has an almost constant and unlimited amount of coverage of major news stories from all around the planet. That's certainly true of the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan, especially since Japan is one of the most tech-happy countries in the world.

And so it comes as little surprise that at least one Japanese man had a camera running in his car as he attempted to flee the impending rush of water near the coastline. Suffice it to say that his plans to escape failed miserably. Thankfully, though, the man lived to tell the tale, as did his footage.

Click past the break to see a truly harrowing video of a Japanese motorist's car being engulfed by a two-meter tsunami. Again, this driver is truly lucky to have survived, and we know that hundreds if not thousands of Japanese citizens weren't so fortunate. Our thoughts remain with the survivors.

[Source: Telegraph]

Continue reading Video: Watch as Japanese motorist's car is engulfed by the tsunami

Video: Watch as Japanese motorist's car is engulfed by the tsunami originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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