Thailand to be the hub of new Honda City

The world debut of the new model of the Honda City subcompact car took place yesterday and interestingly the company has made Thailand the hub of all the production. The cars produced here will be targeted both for domestic sales and export markets. Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co said its manufacturing facilities in Ayutthaya would take on a ”parent-plant” role.

”Honda takes exceptional pride that Thailand has been chosen to lead the global production of the Honda City,” said Honda Automobile (Thailand) president Kenji Otaka during an event held to show off the new model.

”It is a major testimony to the advanced technological and manufacturing expertise and capabilities that are firmly in place here,” he added.

Since 1984, Honda has invested 21 billion baht in hardware and software in Thailand, reinforcing the technologies and expertise of its facilities in Ayutthaya.

”Through a long-term and comprehensive programme implemented to enhance our core assets, Honda’s facilities in Thailand are now ready to assume this parent role. This move is a vote of trust and confidence in the Thai team to assist and provide technological support for our affiliates in India, China and other countries in this region for the global production of Honda City,” said Mr Otaka.

The new Honda City, which is available in three versions, is equipped with an E20-compatible 1.5-litre engine that delivers 120 horsepower, and is priced from 524,000 to 694,000 baht. You’ll also find City factories in the Philippines, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, China, and Turkey. Once the second plant in Thailand opens in late October, Honda will have a 240,000 City capacity.
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