Mazda Suspends U.S. Dealer Orders for Japan Vehicles

Mazda Motor Corp said on Friday it has suspended orders from U.S. dealers for Japan-built vehicles for now because of a shortage of parts due to disruptions caused by the Japan earthquake and tsunami.

"We aren't taking dealer orders as of right now," Mazda spokesman Tim Gilam said. "We don't think consumers will be actually affected by this because we have enough vehicles in inventory to last us for the immediate future."

Mazda has temporarily resumed partial production at its Hofu factory in Yamaguchi and its Hiroshima factory, producing replacement parts and parts for overseas production, he said.

The Japanese automaker makes the Mazda6 car and the Tribute sport utility vehicle in a plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, but the rest of the vehicles sold in the U.S. market, including the Mazda3, CX-7 and CX-9, are built at the two Japanese plants.