Honda Assists Japan Earthquake Victims

Honda Motorcycles

Many of the top names in the motorcycle industry are assisting victims of the Earthquake that occurred in Northeastern Japan lat last week, including one of the country’s largest motorcycle manufacturers, Honda.

This includes halting production at the Kumamoto Factory, where Honda produces the CBR600, the VFR1200F, the DN-01 and the Super Cub. Honda reported that production activities at the Kumamoto Factory will be suspended from March 15 – 20.

In a press release issued by Honda, it offers condolences to the victims of The 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake, and immediately began helping with relief and recovery in affected areas.

First, Honda has suspended production actives at the following Japanese plants, which will help conserve electricity:
・ As of March 14, all production activities are suspended at the following Honda plants: Sayama Plant at Saitama Factory (Sayama, Saitama), Ogawa Plant (Ogawa-machi, Hiki-gun Saitama), Tochigi Factory (Moka, Tochigi), Hamamatsu Factory (Hamamatsu, Shizuoka) and Suzuka Factory (Suzuka, Mie).
・ From March 14 through 20, Honda will suspend regular operations at all Honda facilities in the Tochigi area, where damage was more serious, (including Tochigi Factory, Honda R&D Co., Ltd. Automobile R&D Center (Tochigi) , Honda Engineering Co., Ltd., etc.), and focus on the recovery of each operation. Honda associates will not come to work during this time.

Second, Honda reported the will provide the following aid:
・ 300 million yen toward the relief and recovery effort.
・ A total of 1,000 generators (gasoline-powered and home-use gas canister-powered), along with 5,000 gas canisters. Honda also will dispatch its staff to explain how to use the donated generators.

Third, Honda began the following recruiting activities so "victims of the earthquake can focus on recovery:"
・ Prospective associates, who are scheduled to join the company in April, can choose to delay their first day of work by up to two months if they or their families are affected by the earthquake.
・ For those who have applied for next year’s recruiting process starting in April of this year (associates who would join the company in April 2012) from the affected areas (six prefectures in Tohoku areas and Ibaraki prefecture), Honda will ensure that the testing/interviewing of those applicants will be conducted in June or later. More details will be posted on the recruiting section of the Honda website in April.