Welcome to the Business Journal Archives
Search for articles below, or continue to the all new BusinessJournalDaily.com now.
Search
Honda to Build New Acura SUV at Marysville Plant in Ohio
MARYSVILLE, Ohio -- Honda of America Mfg. today announced it will building a new Acura sport-utility vehicle at its plant here, starting in 2006.The company did not say how many -- if any -- new jobs will be created, nor how much it will invest to retool its manufacturing facilities for the new car. Production of the all-new SUV will join a lineup in Ohio that includes the Honda Accord, Civic, Element light truck and the Acura TL. Placed in the Acura lineup beneath the MDX in both price and size, the new SUV will be the fourth performance and luxury Acura model produced in North America."Since we began auto production in 1982, our Ohio plants have focused primarily on production of passenger cars," said Koki Hirashima, president and chief executive officer of Honda of America'. "Along with the model mix produced at Honda's other plants in North America, this will position us for the future -- providing added flexibility to meet the needs of our customers for both cars and light trucks."The announcement reflects Honda's business strategy to manufacture products close to the customer, the company noted. In addition to passenger cars, Honda has launched five all-new light truck models exclusively in North America since 1998, including the all-new 2005 Odyssey that just went into mass production in Alabama.Most of these light trucks were designed and developed by American engineers at Honda's U.S. Research and development centers, including a major automotive engineering complex in Ohio that houses a safety research crash-test facility.Honda' works closely with more than 600 supplier partners in North America, with purchases of parts and materials exceeding $12 billion a year, the company said.It was 25 years ago this Friday, Sept. 10, 1979, that Honda of America Mfg. began assembling products in America, when an Elsinore motorcycle rolled off the line. Three years later, Honda became the first Japanese automaker to produce automobiles in America.Honda has invested more than $8 billion in 12 plants and other operations in North America, the company noted. Nearly eight of 10 vehicles Honda sells here are made in those plants.To meet market needs, Hirashima said associates in Ohio have been involved in major innovation projects, focusing on new levels of quality, flexibility and efficiency for the future."This has increased our flexibility to produce a greater variety of cars and light trucks in Ohio," he said. "Today, even after 25 years, our plants remain among the most efficient and competitive."Last year Honda of America produced 677,000 Honda and Acura vehicles, as well as 108,500 motorcycles and ATVs and 1.1 million auto engines.Honda's employment in North America now totals more than 30,000 at the company's 12 North American manufacturing plants, three major R&D centers and dozens of other sales, parts and related facilities. The recent addition of a production line at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama boosted total North American auto production capacity from 1.25 million units to 1.4 million units. Visit Honda at www.honda.com"