Honda East Liberty plant takes on new model

Honda’s East Liberty, Ohio auto plant is beginning mass production of the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour, the automaker said today, Nov. 3.

Honda is touting the vehicle as “a new type of crossover utility vehicle that combines the premium refinement of the Accord with the versatile characteristics of a sport-utility vehicle, including a highly functional under-floor storage area.”

Honda has some 14,000 workers in Ohio, mainly at four plants — the Marysville and East Liberty auto plants, the Anna engine plant and the transmission plant in Russells Point — and other facilities, including a Troy distribution operation which has about 340 workers.

Honda called the East Liberty plant “one of the most productive vehicle assembly plants in North America.” The plant has been assembling cars and light trucks for 20 years.

“The associates at the East Liberty auto plant have proven they can build the best cars in America, and they will put all of their efforts into building yet another great product for our customers,” John Pleiman, East Liberty plant manager, said in a statement from the company.

During 30 years, the company has built more than 13 million autos, 17 million engines, 1 million motorcycles, 2 million all-terrain vehicles and nearly 13 million automatic transmissions in Ohio.