Sony, Nissan to Resume Operations at Plants Idled by Quake

Sony Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. prepared to resume production at some factories in Japan, as manufacturers sought to recover after the nation’s strongest earthquake on record forced them to shut plants.

Sony plans to restart a factory that makes rechargeable batteries in Tochigi prefecture, northern Japan, from March 22, Hiroshi Okubo, a Tokyo-based spokesman, said yesterday. Nissan, Japan’s second-largest automaker, said in a statement it will begin the resumption of operations at six factories tomorrow and some vehicle assembly from March 24.