One in 20 Million: Honda celebrates U.S. production milestone
In spite of Honda's latest production cuts, the Japanese automaker reached a significant milestone this week. Twenty-seven years after opening its Marysville, Ohio, assembly plant, Honda has produced its 20 millionth vehicle in North America. The original U.S. plant is still open but it has been joined by assembly operations in East Liberty, Ohio; Lincoln, Alabama; and Greensburg, Indiana. The automaker also has assembly lines in Alliston, Ontario, and El Salto Jalisco, Mexico.
Many of the vehicles assembled in North America are destined for sale on our shores. According to the automaker, more than 77% of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2008 were produced in North America (representing a total of 1,421,427 units). The positive financial implications are obvious when you realize that Honda partners with more than 620 North American suppliers (545 in the U.S. alone) and purchased parts and materials worth more than $19.5 billion in 2008 alone. The automaker also points out that their cumulative North American engine production has topped 18.4 million units, and they have assembled more than 13 million automatic transmissions domestically. Check out the full press release after the jump.
[Source: Honda]
PRESS RELEASE:
02/03/2009 - TORRANCE, Calif. -
Honda produced its 20 millionth automobile in North America based on January 2009 production totals to be released this week. Honda began local auto production in 1982, in Marysville, Ohio.*
"The production of 20 million cars and light trucks in North America was achieved through the ultimate in teamwork by our suppliers, business partners and dealers working together with Honda associates to create joy for our customers," said Tsuneo Tanai, president & CEO of Honda of America Mfg., Inc. and head of Honda's production operations in North America, covering the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
In a letter thanking the more than 34,000 associates working in the company's manufacturing, sales, marketing and R&D operations in North America, Tanai said: "Most importantly, we owe our deepest appreciation to our customers, as none of our accomplishments would be possible without the loyalty they have shown to their Honda and Acura products."
Consistent with Honda's commitment to produce products close to the customer, more than 77% of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2008, were produced in North America- a total of 1,421,427 units. Further, 11 different models are produced exclusively in North America- the Honda Accord Coupe, Civic Coupe and Si, Civic GX natural gas vehicle, Odyssey, Pilot, Element and Ridgeline and the Acura TL, MDX, RDX and CSX (Canadian exclusive model).
Honda has four U.S. automobile plants in Marysville and East Liberty, Ohio; Lincoln, Alabama; and Greensburg, Indiana; two plants in Alliston, Ontario, Canada; and a plant in Jalisco, El Salto, Mexico.
In addition to the 20 million cars and light trucks, Honda's cumulative North American production of automobile engines exceeds 18.4 million units, mostly in Ohio and Alabama, with automatic transmission production now exceeding 13 million units at plants in Ohio and Georgia.
Honda currently partners with more than 620 North American suppliers, including 545 in the U.S., and purchased more than $19.5 billion in parts and materials from its North American suppliers in 2008.
Honda also continues to grow its automobile export program, including both finished vehicles and component parts sets, such as Honda's U.S.-made engines and components sourced from U.S. suppliers. From the start-up of automobile exports in 1987 through 2008, Honda exported 922,668 vehicles made in North America to world markets.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment in 1959 of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda's first overseas subsidiary. Honda began U.S. motorcycle production in Ohio in 1979, and U.S. automobile production in 1982. The company has invested more than $10.6 billion in its North America operations, including 16 major manufacturing facilities employing more than 34,000 associates, to produce Honda and Acura automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft, lawn mowers, general-purpose engines, and other power equipment products.
For further information on Honda's manufacturing operations in North America, please visit our multimedia newsroom online: http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1165/releases/4040
* using domestic and globally sourced parts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Pokey 6:05PM (2/04/2009)
Congratulations Honda!!!!!!!
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cxvargas 6:08PM (2/04/2009)
Well done Honda.
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denton 6:08PM (2/04/2009)
Look at how much the Accord has grown and gained weight over the years. lol
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akboss302 8:33AM (2/05/2009)
So true. I had an '89 Camry a few years back and it was about the same size as a new compact, a Civic or a Lancer. A new Camry seems like a yacht in comparison! Are people just getting bigger or what?
blotto 4:36PM (2/06/2009)
It grew to accommodate larger Americans.
Honda continues to create cool, small vehicles for markets outside the US.
A case in point would be the Fit. Thank god Honda decided to bring that here.
TomdeTomTom 6:09PM (2/04/2009)
Very interesting numbers. I didn't realize how many components they made (or bought) domestically. Happy 20 million Honda!
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Steve 6:11PM (2/04/2009)
Nice work Honda! But in 1982 you missed the letter "O" before MFG Inc.
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Franz 6:12PM (2/04/2009)
Good job Honda. Congratulations are in order.
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Mazda FTW! 6:21PM (2/04/2009)
It's a good company no doubt. Congrats Honda. Now get us some nicer designs, torque and handling.
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JM 6:23PM (2/04/2009)
Honda factory workers are standing on more solid ground compared to their Detroit 2.5 counterpart.
Great job Honda!!!
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Pokey 6:30PM (2/04/2009)
or even their Toyota counterparts.
Jay 6:31PM (2/04/2009)
Here's an off topic question, what exactly does the 2.5 mean?
Last I checked Chrysler was majority owned by Cerberus, which is based in NYC. Its not as if Chrysler is being controlled by Daimler anymore, so someone will have to enlighten me.
Quan 9:31PM (2/04/2009)
@Jay
2.5 as in Chrysler is hooked up to a respirator and being fed through a tube right now. Thus it's not really the Big 3, more like the Big 2.5. Although GM is currently hurting as well general consensus is probably that Chrysler's in a little more trouble.
P.V. 9:31PM (2/04/2009)
Kudos Honda, and here's to another 20 million that's just as good as the first (hint hint: improve those sagging-quality interiors, as they're starting to look a bit low rent (specifically in the Accord and Pilot, not so much in any Acura or in the Fit, Civic, CR-V, or Odyssey))!
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harlanx6 9:52PM (2/04/2009)
With our unemployment figures approaching double digits, Honda is making cars and engines here, while GM is going to have their engines for the volt and that other new car made in Austria!
Not only that, my Hondas have always been high quality, fuel efficient and fun to drive. Good job Honda!
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Stéphane Dumas 10:41PM (2/04/2009)
it'll depends of the economic situation, in the UK Honda was forced to show down the Swindon plant until June
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2009/01/honda-to-shut-down-uk-swindon-plant.html
will the Marysville plant meet the same fate is things go worse?
meanwhile, there the skyrocketing sales of Honda in China http://www.leblogauto.com/2009/01/honda-bientot-plus-de-ventes-en-chine-quaux-etats-unis.html
and as for the "gas-guzzler" image, there a good link
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/the-american-gas-guzzler-myth.htm
torres.cynthia 10:15PM (2/04/2009)
before you order a coll cars you need to check the background check of the car,, you now you need to know the quality of it... =)
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poematik14 10:50PM (2/04/2009)
Hurray for 20 million examples of mediocrity and technological stagnation in the name of the middle class.
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Adam H. 1:09AM (2/05/2009)
mediocrity, i'll give you that one. But stagnation, is a bit over-the-top
i swear you trolls just enjoy being idiots.
honda's 4-cyl in the accord today has much much more horsepower and just as good fuel economy as the original.
every major carmaker has made their contributions to the advancement of car tech.
Honda is one of the largest suppliers of engines in the world.
You're just an idiot. Really. Idiot is all I can say.
dclamster 1:51AM (2/05/2009)
As opposed to the brilliance in Detroit?