WUHAN, China — Honda Motor Co. said it has partially resumed four-wheel vehicle production here, the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak, after obtaining permission from local authorities.

The assembly plant, which built 791,518 vehicles last year, shut down for the annual Chinese spring holiday in late January. Scheduled to reopen February 3rd, the plant was closed indefinitely when the Chinese government sealed off Hubei province to control the virus’ spread.

Honda’s joint venture with local automaker Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co. Ltd. employs 12,000.