A pair of earthquakes that rattled southern Japan last week will temporarily close a Honda facility that produces motorcycles in that country.
However, the damage overseas will have little, if any, impact on the auto manufacturer’s operations in Ohio, company officials said this week. Honda is a major employer in Ohio, and the company’s Marysville facility employs about 1,400 workers from Clark and Champaign counties. Honda employs more than 13,000 Ohioans statewide.
Honda has temporarily closed its Kumamoto facility in Japan, but the earthquake’s impact locally should be minimal, said Chris Abbruzzese, a spokesman for the company.
“(There is) no expected impact to Honda’s Ohio operations,” Abbruzzese said. “The Kumamoto plant produces motorcycles and transmissions for the Japan markets.”
Two powerful earthquakes struck Japan last week, killing more than 40 people.
In 2011, an earthquake and tsunami ravaged the country, damaging an area in which Honda had several facilities. That tragedy had a ripple affect that also led to parts shortages and delays at Honda’s facilities throughout the world, including Ohio.
According to a company website, Honda is providing generators as well as emergency food and water supplies to the affected areas as well as donating to the relief efforts.
Honda workers in the U.S. typically also donate to American Red Cross relief efforts, Abbruzzese said.
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