Honda to move production of hybrid Civic from Japan to US on tariffs
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The hybrid variant of the Honda Civic is currently assembled in Saitama prefecture, near Tokyo.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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TOKYO – Honda Motor said on April 16 it would move production of its hybrid Civic for the US market from Japan to its plant in Indiana, as it seeks to mitigate the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.
The company judged it appropriate to move the output of the model – currently assembled at its plant in Saitama prefecture, near Tokyo – to the United States, considering the Civic’s high popularity there, it said.
Production of the hybrid Civic will be relocated around June or July to Honda’s plant in Indiana, a spokesman said.
“The decision was made based on external factors, including the Trump administration’s tariffs,” he said.
While it is difficult to predict if, when or where Mr Trump’s levies will take effect
It imports roughly 160,000 cars from Mexico to the US each year, an executive said in November. The US is also the largest market for Honda, along with other Japanese carmakers Toyota Motor and Nissan Motor.
Honda executives in Mexico have told the government there that there are no changes in the company’s production plan in the country, Mexico Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said in a post on X earlier this week.
That came after a Nikkei report said Honda was considering moving production from Mexico and Canada to the US in response to auto tariffs.
Mr Trump’s additional 25 per cent tariff
Among Japanese carmakers, Nissan is considering moving some domestic production of the Rogue sport-utility vehicle to the US, according to the government of Fukuoka prefecture, where Nissan has assembly plants.
Mitsubishi Motors has also temporarily suspended deliveries of its cars exported to the US at American ports.
Honda said it will continue to ship from Japan the Civic Type R sport car, which will be its only model for the US market built at home. BLOOMBERG, REUTERS
