Bangkok--28 Mar--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Honda Confirms it is not Shifting Production From Thailand, Will Hold Official Open House Ceremony to Restart Production at Ayutthaya Plant on 31 MarchPrepared to run full capacity to serve domestic and export markets
Honda has reaffirmed that Thailand will remain its major base for Asia and Oceania, and that the company is not shifting its production from Thailand to any other country. Honda's recent announcement about expanding its existing production capacity in Indonesia is part of the company's long-term development strategy for that market. The plan for the Indonesian expansion was in place well before the flood that affected Honda's manufacturing plant in Thailand during the second half of 2011.
Honda has put considerable effort into restoring its Ayutthaya manufacturing plant to resume production. The company is now ready to start up the production line and continue its commitment to growing with Thai society. Honda has already invited the media to a press conference and Open House Ceremony with honorable guest, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra; Honda's Global President & CEO, Mr. Takanobu Ito; and Mr. Hiroshi Kobayashi, President of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. The event will take place on Saturday 31 March 2012, at the Honda Automobile Plant, Rojana Industrial Park, Ayutthaya Province.
Honda's new production plant outside Jakarta will address Indonesia's booming demand for small automobiles. The new plant, which will be built beside Honda's existing automobile plant that already produces Jazz, CR-V and Freed models, will produce an Indonesian version of Honda Brio for the local market. The new plant will be operated by P.T. Honda Prospect Motor (HPM), a joint venture between Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (51%) and P.T. Prospect Motor (49%) that was formed in March 1999.