Wide net for Accord parts

TOKYO: Honda Motor is raising its non-Japanese parts acquisition rate to 70 percent for its Asian version of the new Accord from the current level of about 40 percent.

Honda has, until now, sourced knockdown parts, including engines, from Japan.

The Asian model, based on its North American counterpart and coming out early next year, will begin procuring more parts from the U.S.

Procurement from Japan will fall to about 10 percent. Knockdown assembly of the Asian Accord will begin in November in Thailand and spread to five other nations.

Honda is developing four versions of the Accord to better meet the local conditions and driver preferences in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia.