Automotive Exports May 2019

Honda to shut Turkish auto plant by 2021
Honda Turkey Inc. has decided
to terminate its automobile
manufacturing operations in
Turkey in 2021 following the
completion of the existing production
of the Civic Sedan model, the company
said in a statement released.
In a written statement, Honda
Turkey has announced its decision to
discontinue production at the Turkeybased
factory.
The statement revealed that the
decision was made because of
developments in the electrification
field in the global automotive industry
and the necessity of ensuring the
appropriate production capacity based
on these developments.
“Having successfully maintained its
automobile production activities in
Turkey for 22 years, Honda Turkey is
proud to have reached all of its goals
in this period. Honda’s impressive
performance in the last few years is
the most important evidence of the
company’s great confidence in the
Turkish market. Therefore, Honda
Turkey will continue to offer sales and
after-sales operations beyond 2021 with
high quality services that it offers to its
customers. In this respect, automobile
operations consisting of the import and
distribution of vehicles in Turkey will
continue without interruption. Honda
Motorcycle operations will not be
affected by this decision,” the official
statement read.
Honda Turkey Chairman Takuya
Tsumura underlined in the statement
that they are aware of the need to
spearhead the rapidly changing
market dynamics and technological
developments, adding, “This situation
inevitably affects our automobile
production operations in Turkey.”
Tsumura also stated that they will
provide all kinds of support, including
re-employment, to employees affected
by the decision. Currently, the company
employs approximately 1,100 peopl
May 2019
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