Southeast Asia's auto plants limp along at 30% of capacity

Toyota halts all production in Thailand, prepared to do so in Indonesia

20200408n Thai autos

A Honda Civic at Bangkok auto show in 2019. Sales have plummeted in the country since the coronavirus outbreak. © Reuters

YOHEI MURAMATSU and KOYA JIBIKI, Nikkei staff writers

BANGKOK/JAKARTA -- Auto factories throughout Southeast Asia are operating at only 30% of capacity as the coronavirus outbreak undercuts new vehicle purchases.

Thailand issued an emergency declaration March 26, but the order let factories continue operations. That did not stop Toyota Motor, the country's top auto producer, from shutting its three Thai assembly plants Tuesday until April 17.

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