Toyota Shuts Down Japanese Factories After Possible Cyber Attack

• Toyota will suspend production at 14 domestic vehicle plants on Tuesday. 
• It made the decision after one of its suppliers was hit by a suspected cyber attack. 
• The US and other countries have warned of cyber attack risks as the Ukraine crisis escalates.  

Toyota on Monday said it will halt operations at domestic factories after one of its key suppliers was hit by a potential cyber attack. 

The carmaker said it plans to suspend production at 14 plants on Tuesday, March 1. In a statement on Monday, Toyota apologized to its suppliers and customers for the inconvenience and blamed a “system failure” at a domestic supplier, Kojima Industries Corporation. 

Kojima Industries, which produces metal, plastic, and electronic components, told media outlets it believed it was hit by a cyber attack. Its website was inaccessible on Monday. 

It’s still unclear who may be responsible for the suspected attack. It comes as governments around the world warn of an increased risk of cyber attacks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Japan has joined the US and other countries in slapping Russia with economic sanctions as punishment for the bloody incursion. 

After President Joe Biden announced punitive measures last week, US officials warned business and government leaders to be on high alert for

ransomware

attacks, calling Russia a “permissive operating environment” for cybercriminals, CNN reported. The US wasn’t referring to any specific, credible threats. 

Toyota made the decision to shut down plants during a chaotic time in the global auto industry. Throughout the pandemic, carmakers have reckoned with supply chain snags, parts shortages, and workers contracting COVID-19.