Honda expands in Thailand

HONDA will invest about $227 million in Thailand to build a second car plant to meet demand in Australia and other countries in the Asia-Oceania region.

Honda Australia said this week it had not been advised which Australian-bound models would be built at the new plant, which will be completed by the end of next year with an annual production capacity of 120,000 vehicles. Current Thai imports are the Jazz, Civic, Accord and CR-V.

The new plant is part of a major expansion plan designed to offset slowing sales in Japan. New assembly plants will also be built in the US, India and Argentina, while new engine plants will be built in Canada and Japan.