Shortage of parts from Japan after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami makes Ford idle plants all over the world:

• Beginning this week Ford Lio Ho plant in Taiwan will be idled for two weeks. This “as a precautionary move to ensure we have parts availability going forward and as a result of a shortage of vehicle kits,” Ford told Reuters. The plant makes Focus, Mondeo, Escape, Econovan, Mazda 3 and Mazda 5
• Ford’s Changan Ford Mazda Automobile plant in Nanjing in China will be idled for a week. The plant makes Fiesta, Mazda 2 four-door, and the Mazda 3.
• Ford’s assembly plant in South Africa will also be closed for a week. The plant makes the Focus, Bantam, Ranger pickup truck and Mazda BT-50. The Ranger, BT-50 and Bantam are pickup trucks.