Toyota, Honda suspend vehicle production in Malaysia due to lockdown policy

Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corp and Honda Motor Co have stopped producing vehicles at their plants in Malaysian after the country began a two-week total lockdown to control coronavirus infections.

With Malaysia's policy of limiting those who report to work in auto plants at 10 percent or less, both car firms felt the reduced workforce would not be enough for their requirements.

In Malaysia, Toyota operates two plants in Selangor, while Honda has a car factory in Malacca and a motorcycle plant in Penang.

Virus cases are also increasing in other countries in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand and Indonesia, where Japanese automakers and automotive parts makers also have plants.

If infection rates worsen in those countries could potentially cause further production delays for the car companies.

The officials from both companies assure that even though new car sales are suspended in Malaysia they would continue to provide after-sales service.

Toyota manufactured about 50,000 vehicles in Malaysia last year.

Meanwhile, Honda's motorcycle factory has the capacity to make 300,000 units annually with its car plant capable of producing 100,000 units.