Toyota Motor Corporation has announced that it will close all of its factories in Japan and those of two subsidiaries of Hino and Daihatsu after a suspected cyber attack on one of the largest auto parts supplier. Toyota's decision comes as governments around the world warn companies of the dangers of cyber-attacks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Senior Japanese officials told the Financial Times that they feared that major companies were now targets of retaliation after the Japanese government joined Western countries in implementing tougher sanctions against Russia.
Toyota, which did not specify the nature of the attack and did not blame Russia as a source, said it would halt production at all 14 local factories that employ more than 70,000 workers. It also added that the shutdown followed "system failures at a local supplier that I later identified as the general parts maker Kojima Press Industries." Also, closing all local factories for one day would reduce production by 13,000 cars and it is investigating whether it can resume operations on Wednesday.
Japanese media, without citing sources, reported that the attack affected Toyota's system in terms of issuing and receiving parts orders. Kojima Press Industries' website was inaccessible Monday night and the company said it was attacked by a virus targeted from abroad, adding that it is considering informing relevant authorities. "Given the current situation, the potential risk of cyber attacks is increasing," Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a statement on Wednesday last week. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also told reporters on Sunday that his country had decided to join Western countries in removing some Russian banks from the rapid global payments system.
The closure of Toyota's factories comes at a time when the company was aiming to increase production after the halts caused by the global chip shortage and the Corona epidemic last year. Officials at the Cabinet Secretariat's Cyber Security Center said they were aware of the reports and were gathering information with the Ministry of Industry but said they could not identify the source of the attack. However, a Japanese government adviser on cybersecurity issues said fears are growing that Russian President Vladimir Putin has unleashed hackers with orders to attack targets in countries supporting Ukraine. "Usually, the motives for the attack on Toyota or Kojima might be seen as financial, but there does not appear to be evidence of this," the advisor said.