The Earthquake Impact on Honda’s Global Operations

As our thoughts and prayers go out to Japan and its people, the CE Unbound blog will be covering how Japanese equipment manufacturers (and there are many in the American market) are handling operations overseas. Honda for instance has a number of operations in the Tochigi area, where damage is widespread. Honda Motor Co. Ltd. has confirmed the fatality of a Honda R&D associate at the Tochigi R&D Center, when a wall collapsed in a cafeteria. The associate was male, 43 years old.

More than 30 Honda associates were injured in the Tochigi area from collapsing ceilings and other damage during the earthquake. Honda would like to express its sincere condolences to the family of the associate who died as a result of this earthquake (we would like to do the same). Some Honda plants have closed in Japan and will remain closed through Monday, including:

1. Tochigi Engine, transmission and chassis parts.
2. Saitama Two plants: Sayama plant in the Saitama factory produces CR-V, Accord, U.S. Fit, Acura RL and TSX. In addition, Ogawa Plant in the Saitama factory produces automobile engines.
3. Hamamatsu Two plants — automobile transmissions, outboard marine engines.
4. Suzuka operated Friday, will not be in production Monday. This factory produces Japan Fit, Civic, Civic Hybrid, Insight and Honda CR-Z (all hybrid models).
5. Kumamoto Factory in southern Japan remains in operation (motorcycles).

Honda in Japan is assessing the resumption of operations and the long-term impact to its operations from the Japan earthquake. Currently, there is no immediate impact on Honda’s operations in North America. More than 80 percent of Honda and Acura products sold in the United States are produced in North America. The vast majority of automotive parts for Honda automobiles manufactured in North America are sourced in the region.

Honda is assessing the long-term impact, if any, on Honda auto production in North America, since some auto parts are supplied from Japan. There will be no major impact on the availability of Honda products in North America. Honda Fit, Insight and CR-Z, and Acura TSX and RL are produced in Japan. A small percentage of CR-Vs are produced in Japan. Honda has confirmed the wellbeing of nearly all Honda associates on assignment in Japan from North America, and continues to seek such confirmation. Honda’s operations in North America and globally will do everything they can to support the recovery of Honda’s operations in Japan.