Honda Suspends Operations at Two Factories over Thailand Conflict
Due to the violent political turmoil that has engulfed Bangkok, Honda Motor said on May 20 that they have suspended operations at two Thailand factories making cars and motorcycles.
"We suspended operation of one plant manufacturing cars and another for motorcycles in Thailand today," a Honda spokeswoman said, adding that the suspension is only currently scheduled for May 20.
"We'll decide whether to operate our business on a day-by-day basis, watching the changing situation there," she said.
Honda has a car manufacturing plant in Thailand's old capital of Ayutaya and a plant making motorcycles in a suburb of Bangkok.
The Ayutaya plant has an annual production capacity of 240,000 vehicles, manufacturing mostly its Accord sedan and Civic compact cars for sales in Thailand.
Honda closed its office in Bangkok on May 20 due to the turmoil.
Thailand's army on May 19 cracked down and ended a six-week protest by anti-government protesters in Bangkok, triggering a wave of arson attacks in the capital and more clashes.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010