General Motors says that production of its Hitachi-sourced lithium ion batteries set to be used in the Buick Regal and Buick LaCrosse has resumed following weeks of shutdown caused by the March 11 earthquake in Japan.
Far-reaching ramifications of the massive earthquake that rocked Japan earlier this month are beginning to manifest themselves across the auto industry.
Hitachi has restarted production at its three hybrid and electric vehicle battery plants in Japan, including the Ibaraki Prefecture plant, where it is under contract to build batteries for GM. Among other vehicles, the batteries will be used in eAssist versions of the Buick Regal and LaCrosse mild hybrids.
“The assembly lines have started, but it’s not to 100 percent,” said Hitachi America spokesman Mickey Takeuchi, in an interview with Automotive News. “They have electricity and water and gas.”
The industry publication says that plants are running at about 70 percent capacity this week, but production will be up to a 100 percent level next week.
[A previous version of this story incorrectly suggested that the batteries were used in the Chevrolet Volt.]
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1.’Hitachi plants resume…’ view
