DETROIT — Providing a glimpse of normalcy for an auto industry and world gripped by fear of the coronavirus, Honda Motor’s car assembly plant in Wuhan, China — the city at the epicenter of the global pandemic — resumed production Wednesday, the day President Donald Trump announced U.S. actions.
The assembly plant, which built 791,518 vehicles last year, shut down for the annual Chinese spring holiday Jan. 23. Scheduled to reopen Feb. 3, the plant was closed indefinitely when the Chinese government sealed off Hubei province to control the virus’ spread.
“This is important, good news,” Eric Noble of consultant The Carlab said. “Never underestimate the resiliency of the auto industry.”
Honda’s joint venture with local automaker Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co. Ltd. employs 12,000.
