Honda extends suspension of auto assembly until May 8

Suspension continues for 8,000 Ohio production workers

Honda will not resume automobile production before May 8 at the earliest.

Honda, one of Ohio’s and the Dayton-Springfield area’s largest employers, has extended its suspension of production until May 8, the automaker said Thursday.

“In addition to the impact of COVID-19 on the marketplace, stay-at-home orders remain in many cities and states, impeding the ability of consumers to purchase new vehicles,” Honda said in a new statement. “As a result, Honda must continue to take steps that align product supply and business expenses with market demand.”

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The extension adds one week to the ongoing suspension of work at the company’s automobile, engine and transmission plants in North America. Production work stopped in Ohio and elsewhere in North America March 23.

Also, the company said most U.S. salaried and support employees will continue to be furloughed for an additional week and will return to work on May 8 or 11 depending on location.

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That represents an extension of the current two-week furlough period that started in late April, Honda noted.

Honda of South Carolina Mfg., Inc., which produces powersports products including ATVs and side-by-side vehicles, has suspended production through May 1, Honda also said. That sector of the company suspended production on March 26.

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