Nissan temporarily closes two plants

Nissan has suspended work at two of its Japanese plants because of air transport disruptions in Europe. The car maker says it has been unable to import some auto parts. Nissan halted all production lines on Wednesday at a plant in Fukuoka Prefecture, southern Japan, and some lines at a plant in Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo.

The car maker says it cannot obtain tire air pressure sensors from an Irish maker, and that the delay will cut the production of about 2-thousand vehicles. The company will decide whether to resume work at the plants on Thursday, based on the prospects of obtaining needed parts.

The suspension is the first direct impact on production for a Japanese car maker as a result of the volcanic ash from Iceland that has grounded planes in Europe.