Honda Motor Corp officially resumed production at its facility in Ayutthaya on Saturday (March 31) after floods that hit large parts of Thailandforced the company to shut down operations for six months.
The company said Thailand was among the three key markets for Honda in the Asia and Oceania region, along with India and Indonesia.
“Thailand is the most important market in Asian countries, the Honda Auto plant here in Rojana Industry Park is one of the most important assembly plant in the world.” said Hiroshi Kobayashi, the president of Honda Automobile Thailand Co.Ltd. during news conference.
He said Honda would continue its operations in Thailand, rejecting news reports that the company might move its facility elsewhere.
“We also would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that Thailand remains a very important country for Honda business for both R and D and a production base. Honda is in Thailand to stay,” said Kobayashi.
Honda aimed to produce 150,000 cars in the remaining nine months of this year but the company said the target was for 240,000 units per year.
There are 6,400 employees at the Ayutthaya plant which produces Honda models including the Brio, Jazz, City, Civic, Accord and CR-V for the domestic market. It also exports to more than 56 countries around the world.