COVID-19 and the Challenges Facing the Automotive and Parts Industries

This study examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the automotive and parts industries. While much of the existing literature focuses on macro-level supply-chain disruptions, this project offers a micro-level analysis of firm-level responses, drawing on in-depth interviews with company personnel and factory site visits. It explores how firms integrated management practices and digital technologies into their business continuity plans (BCPs) to respond to pandemic-related shocks. The analysis further situates these disruptions within the broader context of structural transformation in the automotive industry and Japan’s ongoing work-style reform. By examining the interaction between temporary crises and longer-term socio-economic trends, the study provides insights into the post-pandemic trajectory and future resilience of Japan’s automotive sector.