Just like most other Hondas, the Brio was exported from the carmaker’s manufacturing hub in Thailand. Well, it seems that there’s a bit of a twist when it comes to the second-generation Brio. It’s now coming out of Indonesia.

Just as Thailand has become an automotive hub in the region, Indonesia is also fast becoming a recognized global player in automotive manufacturing. With favorable incentives there, the Low Cost Green Car (LCGC) program being one of them, Honda has made Indonesia as its main manufacturing hub for the second-generation Brio.

PT Honda Prospect Motor (HPM), Honda’s automobile manufacturing and sales joint venture in Indonesia has confirmed plans that they are exporting the all-new Brio by the first-half of 2019.

Produced at the Honda factory in Karawang, West Java, it will be exported throughout the Southeast Asia (ASEAN) region starting with Vietnam. And given that Vietnam’s a left-hand drive market too, it’s safe to assume that we won’t be too far behind.

First unveiled at Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show last August, the 2019 Brio was developed by Honda R&D Asia Pacific Co., Ltd., to fulfill the requirements of customers in the small city car segment, particularly for the ASEAN region. It presents a new stylish design with newly added features making it sportier while also maintaining its spacious and functional interior.

Following Indonesia’s LCGC Program where 22.6 percent of total auto sales there are in that segment, the all-new Brio is powered by a 1.2-liter i-VTEC engine making 90 horsepower and 110 Nm of torque. However, for “power-hungry” Filipinos, it’s more likely that Honda Cars Philippines will retain the 1.3-liter i-VTEC motor making 100 horsepower and 127 Nm of torque.

The news of the Brio’s assembly in Indonesia could also mean that Honda’s splitting its manufacturing between Thailand and Indonesia. Its higher-value products from the Jazz upward will still be manufactured in Thailand while its entry-level models, from the Brio to the Mobilio may shift production to Indonesia (except for the BR-V which is now being manufactured in Laguna as well).

HCPI previewed the all-new Brio as the Small RS Concept at the recently concluded Philippine International Motor Show 2018.