PRACHINBURI, Thailand (12 May, 2016) - Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (HATC) today held the opening ceremony for its new plant located at Rojana Industrial Park in Prachinburi province. The all-new plant, equipped with Honda’s highly-efficient and environmentally-responsible production technologies, will serve to enhance Honda’s capability to deliver quality products for customers in Thailand and worldwide. The plant also will help strengthen the company’s role as one of Honda’s important automobile production hubs.

The ceremony was attended by H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, honorable members of the cabinet, and H.E. Shiro Sadoshima, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand, business partners and suppliers of HATC, as well as Honda executives including Takahiro Hachigo, President, CEO & Representative Director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.; Yoshi Yamane, Senior Managing Officer and Director of Honda Motor Co, Ltd.; Noriaki Abe, Chief Operating Officer, Regional Operations (Asia & Oceania) of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (and President & CEO of Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd.); and Gaku Nakanishi, President & CEO of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

With the concept of “delivering quality products with the optimal balance of human craftsmanship and advanced production technologies”, the Prachinburi plant has adopted Honda’s newest production technologies. This includes the world’s first* cell production-style ARC (Assembly Revolution Cell) Line, incorporating flowing cell production-style production units in the main line. The plant also inherited advanced and eco-responsible technologies introduced at Honda’s Yorii Plant, Honda’s most advanced auto plant in Japan. The Prachinburi plant started mass production with the all-new Honda Civic in March 2016, following the production start for plastic parts, and engine and engine parts which started in October 2015 and February 2016 respectively. The plant plans to produce sub-compact and compact models in the future to further enhance its competitiveness for the domestic market and the export.

Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister said: “As the automobile industry is a major factor in the development of the Thai economy, I am glad to see Honda is making Thailand a strategic production and export hub with the most advanced and environmentally-responsible technologies. It will enhance our country’s standing as an important global automobile production base.”

Takahiro Hachigo, President, CEO and Representative Director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., said: “Thailand has increased its presence as one of Honda’s production hubs by supplying products and components not only for the home market but also for the world including ASEAN nations, which drive our global sales growth. I am committed to making certain that the role of Thailand will become even more valuable with the completion of this all-new Prachinburi factory with full advantage of Honda’s newest production technologies.”

Noriaki Abe, Chief Operating Officer for Regional Operations (Asia & Oceania) of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and President & CEO of Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd., said: “This new factory’s high production efficiency will help improve the competitiveness of Honda’s products and parts. We plan to produce more sub-compact and compact models at this Prachinburi plant in the future to further improve our competitiveness both in the Thai market and for export and thereby contribute to the Thai economy.”

Gaku Nakanishi, President & CEO of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said: “With the increased production efficiency of this new factory, we will further strengthen our business operations and enhance the competitiveness of our products and parts made in Thailand.”

The world’s first ARC (Assembly Revolution Cell) Line,
Production efficiency improved by 10% compared to that of a conventional line

Stamping press process efficiency improved by 25% compared to that of conventional line due to servo control and high speed feeder

Operating ratio improved by 40% to that of conventional line with the application of compact and lightweight welding jigs

A “Water Conveyor” to fully re-use water used to cool the plant’s production process

A “skylight roof”, a roof with windows to use daylight to illuminate the plant floor instead of electricity.