(July 19, 2010) TOKYO — Nissan today resumed operations at four domestic assembly plants where it had suspended work following a shortage of key engine components supplied by Hitachi Ltd., the Nikkei business daily reported.

Nissan said it expects to maintain production at regular levels through its summer break from Aug. 7.

Nissan had been forced to shut down the Tochigi, Oppama and Kyushu plants and a Nissan Shatai Kyushu Co facility for three business days since last Wednesday, the Nikkei said.

Two Nissan assembly plants in Mississippi and Tennessee that had been forced to freeze production for three business days since last Thursday are slated to restart Tuesday.

Hitachi's deliveries of engine components had been disrupted as chipmaker STMicroelectronics had started falling behind in deliveries of required custom-made chips, the daily reported.