Honda Re-Opening Japanese Motorcycle Plant

Production at the Kumamoto factory, Honda’s main motorcycle production facility in Japan, has been suspended since March 14 because of the recent national disasters in the Asian nation. The Kumamoto factory produces Honda models such as the Super Cub, CBR600RR sportbike, CB1100 standard, DN-01 crossover and VFR1200F sport tourer, as well as some of Honda’s power generators.

Automobile production at Honda’s Saitama and Suzuka factories will continue to be suspended through April 3.

Repairs at Honda’s Tochigi factory, which was the hardest hit of all Honda facilities in the March 11 earthquake, are nearly complete. The Tochigi factory produces automobile parts and houses Honda R&D Co. and Honda Engineering Co. Engineers and R&D workers have started returning to work but some work will be transferred to other Honda facilities until the Tochigi factory is fully restored.

Meanwhile, American Honda has established a special website with the American Red Cross to channel donations for continuing recovery efforts. The site was originally set up to accept donations from Honda and Acura dealers but it is now open to donations from the public at http://american.redcross.org/hondaacura-emp. Honda’s various American subsidiaries are also going to match all donations dollar-for-dollar from their associates’ personal donations.

“We are making this special website available for contributions based on the outpouring of support and messages of sympathy and concern we have received from so many friends of Honda,” says Stephan Morikawa, assistant vice president of corporate community relations at American Honda. “We are humbled and deeply appreciative of the concern shown for our Japanese associates, their families, and all those affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.”

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