Quake delays Toyota Prius minivan launch

AP - Toyota Motor Corp. says it will delay the launch of the Prius hybrid minivan in Japan due to disruptions in parts supply following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Money Morning submits: By David Zeiler Disruptions caused by Japan's March 11 earthquake and tsunami could further encourage Japanese auto parts makers to relocate factories to China - an eventuality already being driven by explosive growth in the Chinese auto market.

I was sitting in a briefing recently, where I heard how US GDP would be measurably affected by the floods in Thailand –- specifically through the shutdown of production of key auto parts. [0] That reminded me of the supply-chain-propagated impact of events nine months earlier, following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp said it will recall around 2.77 mi

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp will recall about 2.77 million vehicles worldwide, including the Prius hybrid car, due to problems with the steering mechanism and the hybrid system water pump. Toyota will recall 13 models sold in Japan between August 2000 and January 2012, it said in a filing with Japan's transport ministry. Some 1.5 million of the recalls are of cars sold in Japan. The announcement comes a month after Toyota recalled more than 7. ...