Japanese companies outside of Japan worry about meeting customer orders and losing face

"..the company started exporting vehicles to the Middle East in 1996 and since then has never missed a shipment..

"Failure to supply vehicles to our export customers raises concerns about our ability to meet committed customer orders and places a dark cloud over our ability to maintain our position as the preferred distributor to the Middle East" 

Chris Harrod, 

Executive Director, 

Manufacturing, 

Toyota Australia

Source: Toyota seeks secret ballot after stoppage

by Ewin Hannan and Stuart Rintoul

The Australian Newspaper,

Friday September 23rd, 2011, page 6