Honda Motor said on Thursday (28 April) it would partially resume operations on 6 May at its earthquake-damaged Kumamoto factory (Ozu-machi, Kikuchi-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture), which had previously been halted until 28 April, while limited mini-car production had resumed at a subsidiary.

"[We] will resume production in stages, depending on the ongoing circumstances," the automaker said in a statement ."Due to severe damage to some part of buildings and equipment at the Kumamoto factory, [we expect] recovery to be completed in mid-August."

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Subsidiary company Yachiyo Industry, which builds mini-vehicles for Honda, started limited production on 22 April 22 "and is planned to be fully operational in 6 months", Honda added. "Other production facilities are operating normally."

"Honda is fully committed to continue its effort cooperating with the people of Kumamoto for a rapid recovery," the automaker said.

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