Even if they're a shrinking part of the business, the halt to production of IC forklifts by Toyota Material Handling in America is a significant blow to the market's largest manufacturer.
We report this week on the woes in Columbus, Indiana, as TMH tries to ensure compliance with its emissions certification from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and CARB. Without that, it can't ship its products.
The folk at Toyota must be doubly troubled by the problems, especially as they challenge the company's claim that "no other forklift manufacturer in the world is more devoted than Toyota (to clean air)".
There are also challenges for dealers scrambling to fill orders - and for end-users waiting for their IC forklifts.
But TMH is doing its bit to assure customers that it has plenty of alternatives to the petrol and LPG models on hold and that it is "working diligently to resolve this issue".