Heavy monsoon rains over the last week have caused major flooding in large parts of Thailand’s capital city Bangkok and surrounding areas, forcing major automakers in the country to suspend operations this week due mainly to disruptions to the supply of components and travel difficulties face by plant workers.
According to local reports, key automotive industrial zones in Rayong, Chachoengsao, and Chon Buri provinces have experienced severe flooding, cutting off access for workers and logistics providers, while many component manufacturing plants have also been directly inundated.
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Two of the country’s largest automakers, Toyota and Honda, have temporarily shut down their production operations this week due to the logistical problems.
Toyota Motor was forced to shut down four plants on 30 September, including its main assembly plant in Ban Pho, Chachoengsao province, which assembles the Hilux pickup truck and the Fortuner SUV, as well as a facility operated by its Toyota Auto Works joint venture. The automaker said it is working closely with its suppliers to restore deliveries, but has not announced a specific restart date.
Honda Motor said it is suspending production at its Prachin Buri and Ayutthaya plants from 2 to 6 October because component suppliers located in the Chon Buri and Rayong provinces have been unable to deliver components due to severe flooding.
Toyota and Honda have also allowed employees to take time off so they can take care of their personal property and belongings, if they have also been affected by the floods. The two automakers said they plan to introduce additional shifts later in the month to make up for the lost production.
