December 13 - Honda Automobile (Thailand) Company Ltd., Thailand's second largest manufacturer and exporter of passenger cars, has rolled out its one millionth car from its manufacturing facility in Avutthava.
According to Kenji Otaka, president of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Company Ltd., "This accomplishment of 'one million' total cumulative production in Thailand is not only a testimony of consumers' trust in the Honda brand but also a strong vote of confidence in our people, technology, and design innovations."
Thailand is a strategic manufacturing base for Honda vehicles that are distributed to Asia-Oceania regions. The recent achievement marked another significant milestone for the Japanese-based automaker after it produced the first 'made-in-Thailand' Honda vehicle in 1984. In the past 23 years, the company has been dedicated in using well-timed investments, technology and skills that brought the company to a success at this point.
Last July, the company proclaimed an investment of more than U.S. $205 million to build a second facility adjacent to its existing one in Avutthava province. The new Honda plant will be settled to double its annual production capacity from 120,000 to 240,000 units. It is expected to incorporate clean production technologies, which will make it one of the cleanest auto manufacturing facilities in the world.
Otaka said, "Through our pioneering research, next-generation technologies, and innovative designs, we are constantly raising the standards for quality manufacturing and enhancing customer satisfaction. Word-of-mouth endorsements by people who have personally experienced driving a Honda vehicle are valuable testimonials about Honda's durability, safety, reliability, quality and environment-friendly attributes."
Honda vehicles and auto parts like the , produced in Thailand are being exported to: 14 countries for CKD (completely knocked down - or components and parts needed to built a complete car) and more than 30 countries for CBU (completely built up - or vehicle exported fully built).
The one millionth Honda vehicle rolled out is the premium all-new 2008 Accord, which was just locally launched last November. The 2008 model has been completely redesigned to make it bigger, roomier, sportier and more powerful. It is also the first Honda model locally assembled that is gasohol E20-friendly.
The manufacturing facility of Honda in Thailand is by far the sixth largest in the world - following Japan, U.S.A., China, Canada and the United Kingdom. The plant is located at Rojana Industrial Estate, Avutthava Province, with a site measuring 680,000 square meters. Honda employs approximately 3,700 people, working in the Thailand plant. With the existing plant, Honda is manufacturing top-of-the-line models, including the Jazz, City, Civic, CR-V and the all-new Accord.
At present, the total auto industry in the country is considered one of the top ten automotive producers in the world. It produces over 1.8 million vehicles annually, of which more than 800,000 units are exported every year.
