Honda opens new R&D Centre

Honda Australia believes the opening of a new research and development facility in Thailand will have a wide range of benefits for its local line-up. Currently Honda Australia sources most of its range from the company's Thai factories.

Honda President and CEO, Fumihiko Ike, was on hand to open the facility last week that will cater for the Asia and Oceania regions. He said the new automobile research centre is a sign of the company's commitment to the region.

"Today's opening of Honda R&D Asia Pacific Co., Ltd. represents an important step in Honda's history and commitment to Thailand, which has become one of our core operation bases for motorcycles, automobiles and power products," Ike said. "We are currently producing 3.3 million units of Honda products annually for export to more than 80 countries around the world. We have steadily grown our Thailand functions into an important operation for Honda, not only in the Asia-Oceania region, but also for global markets."

Although there was no official detail on just how much input the Australia arm of the brand would have in the future of the facility and the products it develops, Honda Australia spokesman Mark Higgins was upbeat.

"The majority of our product comes from Thailand now," Higgins said. "We have a good relationship with the product planners in Thailand and this will just enhance and strengthen that relationship."

Higgins said it was possible that the new relationship could mean more locally tested vehicles and more specific Australian tuning for local product, but he stressed that the particulars are yet to be resolved.

"The finer details are still to be worked out but I think having the R&D centre will enhance a lot of thing in a lot of ways," he said.