During the tree-planting event, Iwata announced that Honda’s auto plant in East Liberty, Ohio, will be the production site for the new Honda Accord Crosstour crossover utility vehicle (CUV). The East Liberty Auto Plant recently earned the J.D. Power and Associates’ 2009 Gold Plant Award for having the highest quality of any auto plant in North America. The Accord Crosstour will go on sale this fall.
“We have continued to advance our products, and the flexible and efficient manufacturing capabilities that build them, to create new value for Honda and Acura customers,” said Iwata, who leads Honda’s manufacturing operations in North America. “The addition of the Accord Crosstour not only signifies our commitment to the state, but also our trust in the Ohio associates to build this top-of-the-line new Honda vehicle.”
In addition to the East Liberty Auto Plant, other major Honda operations in Ohio will play big roles in the Accord Crosstour project. Honda’s auto engine plant near Anna will produce its engine and Honda’s transmission plant near Russells Point will be the production site for its automatic transmission.
“Honda’s automotive operations in Ohio continue to grow in importance as they provide support to our manufacturing plants in North America and around the world,” said Tom Shoupe, Honda of America senior vice president. “In addition to starting Honda motorcycle and auto production in America, Ohio is where we first began North American engine and transmission manufacturing, and where we have established a major R&D center to develop many of the products we make in North America.”
Honda ended motorcycle production in Marysville last June and is focusing its local operations on automobile and powertrain production. Construction is under way to transform the former motorcycle plant into a consolidation center to deliver automotive parts and components directly to assembly lines at the Marysville Auto Plant.
“During these challenging times, the key to a company’s survival is to respond quickly to rapid changes,” Iwata said. “I am proud of the efforts by Honda associates to strengthen our operations. This puts us in a good position as the market returns to provide our customers with top quality and value in the fuel-efficient products that customers want to buy.”
Honda became the first Japanese automaker to manufacture products in America when it opened its first U.S. plant in Marysville.
On Sept. 10, 1979, 64 Honda associates began producing the CR250 Elsinore off-road motorcycle in Marysville. The startup was so successful that Honda quickly announced plans to build an adjacent auto plant. The first Japanese auto plant in America, the Marysville Auto Plant started producing four-door Honda Accords in November 1982.
Over the past 30 years, Honda plants in Ohio have produced more than 13 million automobiles, 17 million engines, 1 million motorcycles, 2 million all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and nearly 13 million automatic transmissions.
Today, the Marysville Auto Plant produces the Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe models, and the Acura TL Sedan and Acura RDX crossover vehicle. The East Liberty Auto Plant opened 20 years ago in December 1989. In addition to the upcoming Accord Crosstour, the plant is the major production site in North America for the Honda CR-V and exclusively produces the Honda Element.