Honda’s research and development team continually develops new techniques to raise the production potential of Honda’s Thai plant. We sponsor or form partnerships with local parts suppliers in order to improve local automotive components so that they are on par with global Honda standards. There is also a transfer of advanced manufacturing technology from Japan to Thailand to improve the knowhow of Thai employees. In 2005, Honda established Honda R&D Asia Pacific Co., Ltd., in Thailand as a center for automotive research and development for Asia and Oceania. The new company is responsible for overseeing the planning, development, design, research and testing of automotive parts in order to meet our customers’ high requirements.