Honda to end car production in Turkey after 2021

Honda to end car production in Turkey after 2021

Honda will stop making cars in Turkey in 2021, when production of the current Honda Civic sedan ends, the company said in a statement, reported by Reuters. The Japanese carmaker says that it made the decision due to electrification developments in the industry globally, and the need to ensure adequate production capacity.

The company added that its motorcycle operations will not be impacted by this move, and vehicle imports and distribution would continue in Turkey – basically, business as usual except for car production.

This comes after Honda’s February announcement that it will close its UK plant in 2021. The Swindon factory makes the Jazz, CR-V and Civic Hatchback for the European market, plus the FK8 Civic Type R for the world. The same electrification reason was used for Swindon.

Honda to end car production in Turkey after 2021

“This restructure comes as Honda accelerates its commitment to electrified cars, in response to the unprecedented changes in the global automotive industry. The significant challenges of electrification will see Honda revise its global manufacturing operations, and focus activity in regions where it expects to have high production volumes,” Honda said then.

“In light of the unprecedented changes that are affecting our industry, it is vital that we accelerate our electrification strategy and restructure our global operations accordingly. As a result, we have had to take this difficult decision to consult our workforce on how we might prepare our manufacturing network for the future. This has not been taken lightly and we deeply regret how unsettling today’s announcement will be for our people,” said Katsushi Inoue, president of Honda Motor Europe.

In February, Honda said that its global restructuring will also involve Turkey, where it produces 38,000 units per year. Honda says then that it intends to continue its business operations in the country and will continue to hold constructive dialogue with Turkish stakeholders.

With the closure of Honda’s plants in UK and Turkey, the company will no longer produce cars in Europe post-2021.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • sam123 on Apr 08, 2019 at 6:08 pm

    Closure of Honda plants in UK and Turkey, Honda revival here in Malaysia. Annual 100K units

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  • benard on Apr 08, 2019 at 6:17 pm

    “to ensure adequate production capacity” by closing down factories? Surely weird use of adequate there.

    Anyway looks like Honda is fast heading for the direction of the dodo, you close factories because of declining sales.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
    • Godwin on Apr 09, 2019 at 10:42 am

      Cheer up bro. Your negativity literally killing your brain…Learn how to stop it … Exhale … ingale… Take a look at our safe, beautiful Malaysia & happy rakyat all around. Perhaps Honda Malaysia can look to make more cars and export to UK, turki & the whole of Europe & beyond

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 3
  • They should move to pakistan. Apparently thought of a smart move by some other people.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • YB Kunta Kinte on Apr 08, 2019 at 6:45 pm

    yes, everyone is moving towards electrification. All car companies now got EV and hybrids in their range.

    Our Proton is still sleeping. No EV and No Hybrid, despite Hybrid being a 14 year old technology.

    Now car companies will move to Thailand because Thai Government is smart and has made electrification, EV their priority!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 14
    • This is talking about Honda and Turkey. How da heck did you relate to Proton and Thailand? Bodoh much?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 4
      • Same Type as John on Apr 09, 2019 at 2:11 pm

        Learn to read the article fully. Then you will understand.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
  • Abesla on Apr 08, 2019 at 7:25 pm

    Abesla Turkey! Abesla Honda in Europe! After Honda exiting Britain, this is yet another sign that Honda is losing market and rapidly pulling away from Europe. Japanese cars are no longer welcomed there. Abesla Japan!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 6
  • What Honda really want to say: We are not selling enough cars in Europe to justify the high operational costs of the two assembly plants. The closing assembly plants to focus on electrification excuse sound like nonsense, but that’s the best we can think of so you all should just play along.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 0
  • heybadigol (Member) on Apr 09, 2019 at 11:02 am

    The reason is weird. Is Honda saying electric cars require a different factory setup? Surely, only the power unit is different. Everything else is still like a normal car. Else, it looks like they just want to get out of Europe and EU, and build in Asia which is cheaper and has less regulations. On another note, hope the sexy new Honda EV goes into production soon. Maybe produce in Thailand. Then Malaysia can also get it at a reasonable price.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • doesn’t really matter , Honda’s single biggest market is the USA ….where demand is always strong for Hondas…

    So strong in fact , that they facelifted the previous civic within a year , a model that we never got…

    Also, Honda sells(lease) the FCX clarity in california, where the rest of the world didn’t get….

    Europe’s ever changing quest for lesser emissions and greener vehicles makes it hard to cope , especially when your own sales are slowing down, not helped with BREXIT….

    Honda will focus on sale of current offerings to where demand is strong to raise capital to further research electric vehicles….

    Then it will be able to compete in europe on a bigger scale….,

    Knowing Honda, they might set up a new factory within EU with the lower manufacturing costs on a bigger scale to cope with european eventual higher demand of electric cars

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
 

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