Honda to idle Thai factory for 6 months, report says

The automaker has suspended operations at its factory in central Thailand for weeks, with no sign of a restart.

The company believes it will have to replace most of its equipment and facilities that were submerged by floodwaters, the Nikkei said, citing a company executive.

Honda is the only Japanese carmaker whose Thai factory was inundated, the paper said.

The half-year suspension would affect production of more than 100,000 vehicles, it said.

Honda reports second-quarter earnings on Monday, with its profit forecast to fall 61 percent, according to a Reuters survey of 13 analysts. A supply shortage caused by a devastating March earthquake in northeast Japan has dragged on longer than it has for Honda's peers.