Car buyers see color choices dip
Source: Agencies |
March 27, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE shortage of a specialty pigment that gives cars a glittering shine has prompted automakers to temporarily restrict orders on vehicles in certain shades of black, red and other colors.
Major auto makers, including Chrysler Group LLC, Toyota Motor Co, General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co use the pigment called Xirallic that is produced at only one factory in the world - the Onahama plant near the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Japan.
The plant is operated by German chemical company Merck KGaA, and has been evacuated. Merck spokesman Gangolf Schrimpf said the company does not know when it will be permitted to reopen the plant, which was closed soon after the March 11 earthquake.
Chrysler said it was restricting orders on vehicles in 10 colors, including two variations of black and three of red. Ford is slowing production of vehicles in "tuxedo black" and three variations of red.
Chrysler spokeswoman Katie Hepler called it a "precautionary measure" and said the company did not expect any effect on production.
"We anticipate that we currently have an adequate ... supply to meet existing customer orders," Hepler said.
She said other colors being restricted were Bronze Star, Rugged Brown, Hunter Green, Ivory and Billet Silver.
Ford dealers will not be able to order black Expeditions, Navigators, F-150 pickup trucks and its Super Duty pickup, Ford spokesman Todd Nissen said.
He said Ford was exploring other materials that could produce the same shiny effect as Xirallic. Ford is also working with Merck to see if the pigment can be produced elsewhere.
Major auto makers, including Chrysler Group LLC, Toyota Motor Co, General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co use the pigment called Xirallic that is produced at only one factory in the world - the Onahama plant near the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Japan.
The plant is operated by German chemical company Merck KGaA, and has been evacuated. Merck spokesman Gangolf Schrimpf said the company does not know when it will be permitted to reopen the plant, which was closed soon after the March 11 earthquake.
Chrysler said it was restricting orders on vehicles in 10 colors, including two variations of black and three of red. Ford is slowing production of vehicles in "tuxedo black" and three variations of red.
Chrysler spokeswoman Katie Hepler called it a "precautionary measure" and said the company did not expect any effect on production.
"We anticipate that we currently have an adequate ... supply to meet existing customer orders," Hepler said.
She said other colors being restricted were Bronze Star, Rugged Brown, Hunter Green, Ivory and Billet Silver.
Ford dealers will not be able to order black Expeditions, Navigators, F-150 pickup trucks and its Super Duty pickup, Ford spokesman Todd Nissen said.
He said Ford was exploring other materials that could produce the same shiny effect as Xirallic. Ford is also working with Merck to see if the pigment can be produced elsewhere.
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