Honda will open the doors of its first new Japanese factory in 49 years when its new Yorii plant becomes operational in July.
Located in Saitama prefecture, Honda says the new plant – to be among the world’s leading energy-saving factories – will lead the Japanese manufacturer’s global production operations.
Utilising a number of innovative new production technologies and with an annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles, the Yorii plant is aimed at establishing a highly efficient production system that will be responsible for manufacturing small-sized vehicles, like the all-new Honda Fit (Honda Jazz in Australia).
Industry journal Automotive News reports that the last Japanese-based Honda production facility to open was in 1964, when a plant in Sayama, near Tokyo, was officially inaugurated.
Plans for the new plant were unveiled in 2010, when Honda Motor Co. president and CEO Takanobu Ito credited increasing demand for Honda’s low-emission and mini vehicles as the catalyst for the expansion.
The Yorii plant is built on 980,000 square metres of land and will employ 700 people.
