Suzuki Motor Corp. said Tuesday it has halted production at its two auto plants in Myanmar to ensure the safety of its employees following a military coup the previous day.

The Japanese automaker said it stopped output Monday afternoon at its factories in Yangon where a total of 400 employees work. It has yet to decide when to resume production.

Suzuki produced about 13,300 four-wheel vehicles and sold 13,200 units in 2019 in Myanmar, holding approximately 60 percent market share for new car sales in the Southeastern Asian country.

The automaker plans to begin operations at a new factory in Myanmar in September, which can annually manufacture 40,000 units, expecting to further boost its market share in the developing country.

==Kyodo

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