Japanese car services expand recovery efforts for flood-damaged vehicles

Automotive service providers in Japan are scaling up recovery efforts to assist owners of vehicles damaged by recent heavy rains and flooding in the Chiba and Hokuriku regions.

Sokokara, operated by Hanamaru Co., Ltd., has established a disaster recovery support team to handle flooded and submerged vehicles across Ishikawa, Toyama, and Fukui prefectures. In response to the heavy rains in Chiba, the company has already processed over 1,000 vehicle pickups and expects to handle more than 3,000 units. Due to the high number of non-functional vehicles, the company is deploying staff from nationwide yards to assist with towing and recovery.

Additionally, Tau, a company specializing in damaged vehicle reuse, has expanded its vehicle storage capacity in Chiba. By opening five new service centers, Tau now operates seven locations in the prefecture to manage the influx of damaged cars. The company estimates the total number of affected vehicles in the area could reach approximately 18,000 and aims to facilitate the pickup of roughly 3,000 units. Tau provides a specialized simulator to help owners estimate the resale value of flood-damaged vehicles.