Bangkok - Honda on Friday began construction of a 900-million-baht (27-million-dollar) expansion of its motorcycle research and development facility in Thailand, Honda's largest such R and D centre outside of Japan. "This expansion reinforces Honda's commitment to strengthening Thailand's position as the region's motorcycle design hub," said Tatsuhiro Oyama, president of Asian Honda Motor Company.
The Honda R&D Southeast Asia Company was opened in Thailand in 2004 with an initial investment of 850 million baht.
The centre is responsible for market research, styling and design, engineering and testing prototypes for Honda motorcycles sold in the region.
Honda motorcycles are the market leader in Thailand. Of the 845,818 motorcycles sold in Thailand between January to June, this year, Honda models accounted for 68.6 per cent, or 579,954 units.
Earlier this week Honda also announced plans to invest 6.2 billion baht (186 million dollars) to double its automobile manufacturing facilities in Thailand, boosting capacity from 120,000 cars per year at present to 240,000 units by 2008.
