The historic milestone comes 40 years after production started here.
Honda has started off 2023 right with the announcement of the production of its 30 millionth vehicle in America. This is the culmination of over 40 years of automobile production that has seen many a Civic and Accord roll off the assembly line since 1982.
The first Japanese automaker to produce cars in the US, the company has grown its manufacturing arm in the US from one small motorcycle plant in Marysville, Ohio in 1979 to 12 plants across the country that produce everything from car engines, power equipment, power sports products, jet and turbofan engines, and ultimately, many, many cars.
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“We recently celebrated 40 years of manufacturing autos in the U.S. and reaching this 30 million milestone is the direct result of our associates, past and present, who made this significant achievement possible,” said Bob Schwyn, senior vice president of Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC. “This accomplishment reflects the commitment of Honda associates to serve our customers, who spur our creativity to make the high-quality products we know they will love.”
Currently, 12 Honda and Acura vehicles, including hybrid versions of the Accord and CR-V, are produced at the company's five auto plants in Alabama, Indiana, and Ohio.
The vehicle engines, transmissions, and hybrid setups are produced in Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio. These plants contribute to the production capacity of 1.3 million vehicles and employ nearly 17,000 workers.
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All of this manufacturing doesn't come cheap, and equals out to $19 billion in US production over the course of its life, with $3.2 billion coming in the last five years alone. This significant influx of cash is due to the company looking towards its electrified future. Honda sees electric vehicles as the answer to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Prior to this, the goal is for electric vehicles to represent 100% of its vehicle sales in North America by 2040.
To reach this goal, an EV hub will be created in Ohio, which will mean spending $700 million retooling several of its existing auto and powertrain plants for electric vehicle production. On top of this, the company has announced a $3.5 billion joint venture plant with LG Energy Solution that will create a facility that will produce batteries for its upcoming electric cars while creating 2,200 jobs.
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This is going to be necessary, as data shows that consumers are leaving companies like Honda and Toyota for their rivals due to the lack of attractive EVs. Honda is trying to remedy this, and the company's first EV to reach US shores will be the Prologue in 2024.
On top of this, Honda is also planning on building a Hydrogen fuel cell electric CR-V in the old NSX factory that is sure to get people interested. This news is surely enough to get people's attention, but we'll need to see if it'll be able to compete with competitors that already have a head start.
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Keyword: Honda Celebrates 30 Million Vehicles Produced In The US