Honda starts production of RDX

Production of the Acura RDX crossover SUV has began at Honda’s East Liberty, Ohio plant, the company has said.

The plant in Logan County will produce the second-generation RDX for U.S. and export markets. In December 2011, the plant also launched the 2012 Honda CR-V, which Honda called “America’s most popular SUV in January and February 2012.”

The engines and automatic transmissions for the RDX and the CR-V will also be made in Ohio, at the Honda engine plant in Anna, about an hour north of Dayton, and at the Honda transmission facility in Russells Point.

“We know the East Liberty plant is one of the best in the world, as is evident by your high-quality rankings,” John Mendel, American Honda Motor Co. Inc. executive vice president of sales, said in a Honda announcement.

The East Liberty plant received the J.D. Power and Associates “silver award” for quality in 2011, Honda said.

Honda has more than 13,500 employees in Ohio, including some 1,300 who commute to company plants from homes in the Dayton area.