Thai Honda Manufacturing Company has opened its new multi-purpose engine plant at the Lat Krabang Industrial Estate in Bangkok to celebrate the production of its 20 millionth engine on July 28th this year, media sources reported.

The plant, which has annual production capacity of 2.7 million engines, was inaugurated on July 30th at a ceremony presided over by its President Shunichi Eguchi.

Honda has also moved its multi-purpose engine research and development department of Honda R&D Southeast Asia (Thailand) Company to the new plant. The company functions as Honda's Southeast Asian research and development centre for motorcycles and multi-purpose engines.

Thai Honda Manufacturing Company sells its engines in Thailand and 80 other countries in Asia and Oceania, as well as North America and Europe.

The company started manufacturing automobiles in May 1967 and multi-purpose engines in 1987.

At present, the company produces 1.5 million motorcycles and 2.7 million multi-purpose engines annually and employs 8,100 workers. Its products include PCX (120,125), CBR250R and WAVE motorcycles, GX Series multi-purpose engines, mowers and water pumps.