Honda has produced 30 million vehicles since it set up shop in the United States. The Accord began production at Honda’s Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio on November 1, 1982 and, in the process, Honda became the first Japanese automaker to produce cars in the U.S. In the ensuing forty years, Honda has invested $16 billion in manufacturing facilities and, in 2022, more than two-thirds of all Honda and Acuras sold in the America were made in the U.S.
To put things in perspective, in the past 40-years, the New York Yankees have won five World Series, the Alabama Crimson Tide garnered seven NCAA football national championships, and hell froze over repeatedly because the Eagles reunited multiple times. Strange days in the past 40 years and yet Honda just kept producing cars, vans and trucks.
A dozen Honda and Acura cars and light trucks, including hybrid versions of the Accord and CR-V, are currently produced at Honda’s five auto plants in Alabama, Indiana and Ohio. Engines, transmissions and two-motor hybrid systems are produced in Ohio, Alabama and Georgia. Almost 17,000 associates are employed at the eight production facilities that go towards the annual production capacity of 1.3 million vehicles.
Honda is celebrating its past but is also looking forward to maintain its foothold in U.S. vehicle production by announcing two investments to develop and build an “EV Hub” in Ohio. The Marysville Auto Plant (MAP), East Liberty Auto Plant (ELP) and Anna Engine Plant (AEP) will receive a $700 million facelift to prepare for Honda’s goal in having its battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles represent 100% of its North American vehicle sales by 2040; by 2050, it will have carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities. The other facet of the “EV Hub” project is a $3.5 billion joint venture with LG Energy Solution for a battery facility in Ohio.
