HONDA MAKES ITS 10 MILLIONTH U.S. VEHICLE

U.S. production of Hondas surpasses Japan The Marysville Auto Plant has become the first Honda plant outside Japan to manufacture* 10 million vehicles with the production of a Honda Accord Sedan at the end of this month. Honda began local auto production in November 1982 at the Marysville plant with an Accord Sedan, and has continued producing that model along with various others. Identified with a magnetic sign on its hood, associates followed progress of the vehicle in production until it came off the assembly line as a completed product. The milestone Accord was immediately moved into the plant's West Cafeteria for display alongside the first generation of the Accord produced at the plant. In its 28th year of production, the Marysville plant has undergone continuous innovation, making it one of the most flexible and efficient plants in North America, while achieving top quality performance. The plant ranked fourth in North America in the 2010 Initial Quality Survey conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. In addition to the Accord Sedan and Coupe, the plant currently produces the Acura TL and Acura RDX models. "I am very proud of the MAP team, and I know firsthand that each associate cares deeply about the product that goes out the door," said Plant Manager Sam Harpest. "This is a direct reflection of the dedication shared by all Honda associates who have supported production at this plant." Nearly all Accords sold in North America are manufactured at the Marysville plant, with more than 8.5 million units produced at the plant on a cumulative basis. The TL, RDX and Accord Coupe are exclusively produced at the Marysville plant, and some V-6 Accord Sedans are manufactured at Honda's auto plant in Alabama. Consistent with Honda's commitment to manufacture products close to the customer, more than 84 percent of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2009 were produced in North America. Honda partners with nearly 600 North American suppliers, including 530 in the U.S. and 160 in Ohio, in the production of passenger cars and light trucks. Those purchases totaled $13.3 billion in North America last year, with $5.5 billion in parts coming from Ohio suppliers. In Ohio, Honda operates another auto plant in East Liberty, a major transmission plant in Russells Point and the Anna Engine Plant in Anna, Ohio. Honda's largest auto engine plant in the world, the Anna plant will celebrate its 25th anniversary of engine production on Thursday. In addition to manufacturing, Honda has established substantial R&D and engineering operations in Ohio, along with a regional parts distribution center and other operations that support Honda manufacturing and sales in North America. Among all its operations, the company directly employs 13,500 Ohioans and tens of thousands more through its suppliers and other business partners. In related news, Honda Motor Company marked a milestone this past quarter (April-June 2010), building more vehicles in the United States than in Japan, reports Christine Tierney of The Detroit News. “Honda assembled 236,819 vehicles in the United States and 236,559 in Japan during its fiscal first quarter.” Honda began business in America in 1959 and today employs more than 26,000 associates. The company operates 14 manufacturing facilities in North America, producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, engines and automatic transmissions, all-terrain vehicles, and power equipment such as lawn mowers and mini-tillers.