Incident at Chuo Spring Co. facility
The explosion occurred on 6 March 2025 at the Chuo Spring Co. factory in Toyota City, Japan as reported by Automotive News. Chuo Spring Co. is a key supplier for Toyota, manufacturing critical components such as springs. The rare incident tragically resulted in one fatality and the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Production halts at key Toyota plants
Following the explosion, Toyota reportedly suspended operations at multiple facilities producing the RAV4:
- One of two assembly lines at the Takaoka plant
- Two assembly lines at the Nagakusa factory
Both plants are responsible for manufacturing the Toyota RAV4, which is built in Japan and exported to multiple global markets, including Australia.
Potential impact on Australian deliveries
Toyota Australia is monitoring the situation closely but has not yet confirmed whether local deliveries will be affected.
“We are seeking further information from our production team in Japan,” a Toyota Australia spokesperson told CarExpert.
“At this stage, it’s too soon to know if this will impact RAV4 production for Australia.” The popular SUV already has an extensive backlog stretching up to nearly two years for select variants and this could further add to the wait times for some buyers.
The Toyota RAV4 remains one of the brand’s most sought-after models in Australia, with strong sales momentum in 2024 and early 2025. The Toyota RAV4 is on a trajectory to become the best-selling new car of the year with the hybrid SUV looking to dethrone the mighty Ford Ranger ute.
What’s next?
Toyota is expected to provide further updates on production schedules and any potential impact on Australian RAV4 deliveries in the coming weeks. A new-generation RAV4 is expected to be unveiled later this year, with an Australian launch in 2026. It will continue to compete against the likes of the Mazda CX-5 Hybrid, Kia Sportage Hybrid and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Comments
New Comment