Honda Cars India and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), the passenger vehicle and two-wheeler arms of the Japanese automaker, have suspended their manufacturing operations.

Honda Cars India today said production operations at both its manufacturing plants in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh and Tapukara, Rajasthan will be temporarily suspended from March 23 till March 31. Both plants have a cumulative manufacturing capacity of 280,000 units per annum.

Honda Cars India said that its "Associates working in corporate offices, including zonal and regional locations for all functions will primarily work from home, except for those involved in running essential services that require physical presence or minimal staffing for a few critical activities while abiding by the government regulations."

Gaku Nakanishi, President & CEO, Honda Cars India said, “In these trying times, health, safety, and well-being of our associates, their families, and community at large is of utmost importance. We stand by them during this tough phase and urge everyone to take all possible measures to prevent COVID-19 from spreading further. Social distancing is the need of the hour. We can overcome the pandemic if we collectively show restraint, resolution, and responsibility.”

At HMSI, whose four factories – Manesar (Haryana), Tapukara (Rajasthan), Kolar (Karnataka) and Vithalapur (Gujarat) – with a combined capacity of 6.4 million units in FY2019 have moved to BS VI production, have temporarily shut down operations with immediate effect till further notice.  The duration of this shut down will depend upon the government policy, says the company. 

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