Toyota Motor Corp. closed 12 plants in Aichi Prefecture Thursday as Typhoon Melor smashed into the country.
The shutdown will probably only be for Thursday, spokesman Takanori Yokoi said. Honda Motor Co., Japan's second-biggest automaker, halted a plant in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, said Natsuno Asanuma, a company spokeswoman.
The typhoon struck near Nagoya shortly after 5 a.m., bringing winds of 139 kph and heavy rain. The storm prompted an evacuation of more than 21,000 people in areas west of the city, according to NHK.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. closed three domestic plants at midnight, spokesman Kai Inada said. They will likely open in the afternoon, he added. Daihatsu Motor Co., the country's largest minicar maker, halted production at its four domestic plants, spokeswoman Emi Yoshino said. Operations may resume later Thursday, she said.
Suzuki Motor Corp. closed six plants for Thursday, spokesman Takuma Mizuyoshi said.
Nissan Motor Co. was unaffected by the typhoon, spokesman Mitsuru Yonekawa said. The company's factories are in different areas of Japan.