TOKYO: Honda Motor Co. will halt production at a central Japan plant for five days in February due to parts procurement delays caused by a global semiconductor shortage, sources said Saturday.

Another automaker Mazda Motor Corp. has also decided to trim its February production in western Japan more than initially planned.

Honda will carry out the five-day halt at its Suzuka plant in Mie Prefecture, where a production cut of 4,000 vehicles was implemented in January, mainly affecting the flagship Fit subcompact.

As some parts remain in short supply, Honda will stop production at the plant again in early February. That month, the production volume is likely to be reduced by about 10,000 units.

The Suzuka plant also manufactures the popular N-Box minivehicle.

Mazda plans to cut production of some models, mainly the flagship Mazda3 subcompact, at in its main factory in Hiroshima Prefecture and Hofu plant in the neighboring prefecture of Yamaguchi.

The output will be reduced by nearly 10,000 units in total. Mazda’s overseas production is also likely to be trimmed.

JIJI Press