Toyota, Honda halt production in Malaysia

Japanese automakers Toyota Motor and Honda Motor will shut down production in Malaysia on June 1 as the nation goes into a lockdown, raising concerns that surging coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia will cripple global supply chains, Report informs referring to Nikkei Asia.

Malaysia imposes a nationwide lockdown on June 1, shutting most industries through June 14. Auto manufacturers and steelmakers will be permitted to continue operating but may send only 10 percent of their employees to work, while electronics, chemical, and pharmaceutical companies will be limited to 60 percent.

Toyota, which made about 50,000 vehicles in Malaysia last year, will suspend production and sales there starting June 1.

Honda will close two plants during the lockdown. The country is one of Honda's largest production hubs in the region, able to turn out 300,000 two-wheeled and 100,000 four-wheeled vehicles a year.

The lockdown will be particularly tough for Daihatsu Motor, which is also set to halt work at two plants in the country. Malaysia accounts for nearly half of the company's production outside Japan.