In a June 5th report, Suzuki Motor
had recently stopped making the Swift car due to China’s rare earth restrictions, the first Japanese automaker to be affected from the new export curbs.It had informed that it would temporarily stop the Swift subcompact’s production from May 26 to June 6, excluding the Swift Sport, because of missing components.It did not say anything further and a spokesperson refused to provide a reason for the suspension which was originally reported by Nikkei.Suzuki will restart making Swift cars at the Sagara plant on June 13 and finish later on June 16, because it now believes that parts will be available, it added on Thursday.”
China’s decision to halt exports of rare earths and magnets in April has disturbed the world’s supply for automakers, aerospace firms, semiconductor companies and military firms.Some of the European auto parts plants have stopped producing cars, as has Mercedes-Benz. is contemplating what steps to take against a lack of rare earths.This report is based on the works of Maki Shiraki in Tokyo and Aditi Shah in New Delhi, with contributing efforts by Kantaro Komiya and Satoshi Sugiyama; it was edited by Chang-Ran Kim and Christopher Cushing.