Suzuki halts production at two plants in Myanmar after coup

Suzuki had a world premiere of the latest version of its Carry Pick-Up during the 2019 IIMS, which will have a starting price of Rp 135.6 million. - JP

TOKYO (The Jakarta Post/ANN): Suzuki Motor said Tuesday (Feb 2) it has halted production at its two auto plants in Myanmar to ensure the safety of its employees following a military coup the previous day.

The Japanese automaker, in a report by Kyodo News, said it stopped output Monday afternoon at its factories in Yangon where a total of 400 employees work.

It has yet to decide when to resume production.

Suzuki produced about 13,300 four-wheel vehicles and sold 13,200 units in 2019 in Myanmar, holding approximately 60 per cent market share for new car sales in the Southeastern Asian country.

The automaker plans to begin operations at a new factory in Myanmar in September, which can annually manufacture 40,000 units, expecting to further boost its market share in the developing country.

Senior US and Japanese government officials have shared concerns over the situation in Myanmar, including the need to restore democracy, the US State Department's East Asian bureau said Monday following Myanmar's military coup.

The bureau said that its Acting Assistant Secretary Sung Kim spoke with Keiichi Ichikawa, director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's North American Affairs Bureau. - The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network