USA - The Acura MDX starts builing at a second US Plant to meet growing demand.

• East Liberty Plant in Ohio Joins Alabama Plant in Producing MDX
• Five of Acura's Six Products Now Built in Ohio

Production of the Acura MDX luxury SUV was bolstered today when the East Liberty Auto Plant (ELP) in Ohio began producing the award-winning Acura vehicle, the second U.S. plant to build America's best-selling 3-row luxury SUV of all time. ELP joins Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln, Ala. in producing the MDX

With the addition of MDX production at ELP, five of Acura's six products are now built in Ohio.  The MDX joins its stable mate, the award-winning RDX sport-utility vehicle, at ELP, while associates at the Marysville Auto Plant build the TLX and ILX luxury sedans.  The Acura NSX is also produced exclusively at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville – the only supercar built in America.

ELP invested $85 million for the addition of new welding equipment, the extension of vehicle conveyors and other changes required to support production of the MDX, and will assume sole production of the MDX this fall. This will enable the Alabama plant to increase production of the Honda Pilot, helping both the Acura and Honda brands meet increased customer demand for their respective light truck models.

"From our startup three decades ago producing small sedans to the three different light trucks we build today, our associates continue to demonstrate the skills needed for high quality and flexible manufacturing," said Tim Myers, East Liberty Auto Plant Manager. "I'm proud of the commitment of our team to take on new challenges to meet the needs of our customers."

The refreshed and restyled 2017 Acura MDX introduced last year, raised its game with bold new exterior styling, larger wheel and tire options and an expanded complement of premium features and technologies, including the AcuraWatch™ suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies, now offered as standard equipment on all 2017 MDX models, a first in the luxury SUV segment.

ELP also produces the best-selling SUV in America, the Honda CR-V, and served as the global lead plant in several key areas for the recent launch of the all-new 2017 CR-V.The plant employs 2,350 associates and has the annual capacity to manufacture 240,000 passenger cars and light trucks. The 2.8 million square foot plant started production in December 1989.

USA - FCA US LLC announces a large investment and a significant number of new products for the Jeep brand.

FCA US Expands Jeep_® Product Lineup, Adding Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and a Jeep Pickup Truck; Makes Further Commitment to U.S. Manufacturing With $1 Billion in New Investment and 2,000 New Jobs

• Announcement is a continuation of the efforts already underway to increase production capacity in the U.S. on trucks and SUVs to match demand
• Confirms addition of new models to award-winning Jeep® lineup – a Jeep pickup truck and the storied Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer
• Investment includes retooling and modernization at Warren, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio, plants; creates additional 2,000 American jobs
• Total U.S. committed investment grows to more than $9.6 billion since 2009, with 25,000 jobs created to date
• Production moves solidify U.S. as the global manufacturing hub for the flagship Jeep products

FCA US today confirmed the next phase of its industrialization plan by announcing a total $1 billion investment in plants in Michigan and Ohio, and the addition of 2,000 new American jobs. 

Consistent and combined with previously announced investments, FCA US is further demonstrating its commitment to strengthening its U.S. manufacturing base, and aligning U.S. capacity to extend the Jeep_® product lineup. 

In total, FCA US has committed investments of more than $9.6 billion in its U.S. manufacturing facilities and created 25,000 new jobs to date since 2009.

EXISTING MODEL RANGE

Today’s announcement is the second phase of an industrialization plan announced in January 2016. The plan called for the realignment of the Company’s U.S. manufacturing operations to fully utilize available capacity to respond to a shift in market demand for trucks and SUVs, and to further expand the Jeep and Ram brands.

With the $1 billion investment, FCA US will retool and modernize the Warren Truck Assembly Plant (Michigan) to produce the all-new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, and the south plant of the Toledo Assembly Complex (Ohio) to build an all-new Jeep pickup truck. These actions are planned to be completed by 2020. More than 2,000 jobs also will be added to support production of these models. The added benefit of the investment in Warren is that it will enable the plant to produce the Ram heavy duty truck, which is currently produced in Mexico.

“The conversion of our industrial footprint completes this stage of our transformation as we respond to the shift in consumer tastes to trucks and SUVs, and as we continue to reinforce the U.S. as a global manufacturing hub for those vehicles at the heart of the SUV and truck market,” said Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer of FCA N.V. “These moves, which have been under discussion with Dennis Williams and the rest of the UAW leadership for some time, expand our capacity in these key segments, enabling us to meet growing demand here in the U.S., but more importantly to increase exports of our mid-size and larger vehicles to international markets.

“The expansion of our Jeep lineup has been and continues to be the key pillar of our strategy. Our commitment to internationalize the Jeep brand is unwavering, and with these last moves, we will finally have the capacity to successfully penetrate markets other than the U.S. which have historically been denied product due to capacity constraints. In addition, these all-new products will reach new consumers, as well as those that have been part of the Jeep tradition,” said Marchionne.

The actions announced today are subject to the negotiation and final approval of incentives by state and local entities.

Previously Announced Actions

In July 2016, the Company made two announcements involving production shifts at three plants to gain additional capacity for the Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Cherokee and Ram Light Duty Truck.

The first announcement confirmed a more than $1 billion investment and the addition of 1,000 jobs at its Illinois and Ohio plants. The Company will invest $350 million in the Belvidere Assembly Plant (Illinois) to produce the Jeep Cherokee, which will move from its current production location in Toledo, Ohio, in 2017. Approximately 300 new jobs would be created.

Following the move of Cherokee to Belvidere, the Company will invest $700 million in the Toledo Assembly Complex (Ohio) to retool the North plant to produce the next generation Jeep Wrangler. Approximately 700 new jobs will be added.

In the second announcement, FCA US announced that it will invest nearly $1.5 billion in its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (Michigan) to retool it to build the next generation Ram 1500. In September, the Company committed to adding 700 new jobs to support production.

Rick Hendrick takes delivery of Vin Number 001 Acura NSX Supercar, with the $1.2M going to two charities.

• First customer Rick Hendrick takes delivery of VIN 001 with proceeds from his $1.2 million winning bid going to two children’s charities

Acura today celebrated the highly anticipated line-off of the first serial production 2017 Acura NSX at the new Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio. The PMC is the exclusive manufacturing home to Acura's next-generation NSX, the only supercar made in America.

"Today marks the realization of a big dream here at the PMC and the culmination of more than 30 years of manufacturing experience and expertise here in Ohio," said Clement D'Souza, engineering large project leader for the Acura NSX. 

"Our world class team of expert technicians, through their passion, has realized major innovations in the design and manufacturing of a next-generation Acura supercar that truly delivers incredible precision crafted performance."

The first customer, Rick Hendrick, earned the right to custom order the first production NSX with a winning bid of $1.2 million at the Barrett-Jackson auction in January. All proceeds from the sale went to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground.  Hendrick drove his Valencia Red Pearl Acura NSX off the line. VIN 001 features exclusive interwoven wheels, carbon ceramic brake rotors, leather and Alcantara interior trim and carbon fiber upgrades including the engine cover, roof, and rear decklid spoiler.

"The NSX is a pure expression of the Precision Crafted Performance DNA and challenging spirit that defines the Acura brand," said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of Acura. "We can't wait to give our clients a chance to experience this dream product, and will carry this day's momentum forward as we continue to invest in and grow Acura."

"Taking delivery of this first new Acura supercar and knowing the proceeds will benefit two remarkable organizations for children makes this a very special moment for me and everyone on our team," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group. "It's especially rewarding to see this incredible supercar coming to life in the United States, which is a real testament to the company's commitment to innovation and manufacturing here."

The PMC was designed to blend human craftsmanship and advanced technologies to assure superior build quality and precision crafted performance. The PMC is home to master technicians who developed 12 patent-pending technologies and other advanced methods of producing a made-to-order supercar. PMC associates created sophisticated new manufacturing methods around the unique capabilities and specifications of Acura's next-generation NSX. Innovations to the NSX construction, painting, assembly and quality confirmation process include fully robotic MIG welding of the aluminum-intensive space frame, 14 hours of meticulous hand assembly by 16 highly skilled manufacturing technicians, and a dynamic performance testing and confirmation process drawn from the company's extensive race experience.

In nearby Anna, Ohio, at the company's largest engine plant, master builders hand assemble the NSX's 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine, which is then mated to its advanced 9-speed dual clutch transmission and rear direct drive electric motor.  Each NSX engine is machine balanced, bench tested and broken-in to the equivalent of 150 miles of service to ensure that every NSX engine is track-ready upon customer delivery.  The engine is installed at the PMC, along with its revolutionary front-mounted Twin Motor Unit, which enables electrically powered torque vectoring, a world's first capability in the sports car realm.

Development of the Acura NSX involved a global R&D team led by engineers at the Ohio Center of Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Raymond, Ohio, roughly a mile from the PMC.  The final design was created at the Acura Design Studio in Torrance, Calif., based on an original concept from the Wako Studio in Japan.

Acura debuts the new NSX racecar at the New York Auto Show ready for competition from 2017.

• Twin turbocharged NSX supercar to campaign in North American competition starting 2017
• NSX slated to undergo homologation this fall as an FIA GT3 class racecar
• Racecar body to be built by the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio, the exclusive manufacturing home to the all-new Acura NSX supercar; engine to be produced in Anna, Ohio

Acura took the wraps off a NSX GT3 racecar today at the 2016 New York International Auto Show, announcing its intention to campaign the twin-turbocharged NSX supercar in North America starting in 2017. The NSX is currently undergoing testing and slated for homologation as an FIA GT3 class racecar this fall.

The unveiled Acura NSX GT3 racecar featured custom bodywork and aero components including a large deck wing spoiler, underbody diffuser and enlarged hood vents for efficient engine cooling. The NSX GT3 will be powered by a 3.5-liter, 75-degree, twin turbocharged DOHC V-6 engine using the  same design specifications as the engine in the production 2017 Acura NSX, including the block, heads, valvetrain, crankshaft, pistons and dry sump lubrication system. The engine will be paired with a 6-speed, sequential-shift racing gearbox, delivering power to the rear wheels.

The NSX GT3 will utilize the production NSX's ultra-rigid and lightweight multi-material body with aluminum-intensive space frame, which will be produced by the Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio, the exclusive manufacturing home for the new Acura NSX. Its twin turbocharged V-6 engine will also be manufactured in Ohio.

Initial development of the NSX GT3 was conducted by the company's Japan race engineering arm with testing on race circuits in Europe and Japan. Additional development, testing and final homologation to FIA GT3 global racing specifications is currently being undertaken by the company's North American race engineering group, Honda Performance Development (HPD), in Santa Clarita, California.

"The NSX was designed as a pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance, and we're looking forward to proving out its ultimate performance capabilities in GT3 racing," said Art St. Cyr, president of Honda Performance Development.  "We'll be working with the NSX engineering teams in Ohio and Japan to bring our dream of a truly world-class new Acura NSX racecar to fruition."

The Acura NSX GT3 car will join a rich legacy of Acura sports car racing campaigns and championships, including the 1991, 1992 and 1993 IMSA Camel Lights manufacturer and driver championships, and the 2009 American LeMans manufacturer, driver and team championships in both the LMP1 and LMP2 classes. Acura currently campaigns a pair of TLX GT cars with Real Time Racing in the Pirelli World Challenge.

The production 2017 Acura NSX launches this spring with serial production slated to begin in late April at the Performance Manufacturing Center. Customer order taking commenced on February 25, 2016, with the launch of the NSX online configurator at NSX.Acura.com.

Honda confirms European sales of the All New Supercar, NSX will begin in the Autumn.

• Prices starting from approximately £130,000
• Europe confirmed as the lead export region for NSX
• European deliveries to commence during Autumn 2016

Following the clamour and excitement of its official launch in the US, Honda UK today announced further launch details for the all-new Honda NSX with prices starting from approximately £130,000.

Honda has confirmed that Europe will be the leading export region for sales of NSX, and will be sold through a limited network of authorised dealers in key European locations. Deliveries of the first NSX in Europe are to commence during Autumn 2016.

Specifically created to bring a “New Sports eXperience” to the supercar segment, the NSX challenges prevailing beliefs about supercars as much as the first generation did a quarter of a century ago. The NSX features classic low and wide proportions married to modern and alluring surfacing, an aggressive front design, and rear lights.

At its heart is an all new longitudinally mounted twin-turbo V6 engine that is mated to an all-new, Honda developed 9-speed DCT with an electric motor that applies its torque directly to the crankshaft for higher output with immediate power delivery to the rear wheels.

The NSX will be manufactured exclusively at the Performance Manufacturing Centre (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio, where approximately 100 highly-skilled low-volume production specialists will conduct full body construction, paint, and final assembly.

Honda has marked a huge milestone with 30 Million cars, trucks and people carriers produced in the USA.

Honda marked a major milestone today as the company's eight auto plants in  the United States, Canada and Mexico reached the 30 million mark in total automobile production. 

Honda started auto production in North America in Marysville, Ohio, on Nov. 1, 1982.  Last year, more than 97 percent of the Honda and Acura auto mobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in North America.

"The production of 30 million automobiles in North America is the result of the support we have received from our customers and the communities that serve as a strong foundation of our operations in North America," said Takuji Yamada, president of Honda North America, Inc. 

"This is an incredible achievement by Team Honda – including the tremendous dedication and teamwork of our associates, past and present, together with our suppliers, dealers and business partners – all focused on creating joy for our customers."

Honda was the first Japanese automaker to begin production of automobiles in the U.S. and North America. Since production started in Marysville, Honda has established automobile manufacturing operations in East Liberty, Ohio; Lincoln, Ala.; Greensburg, Ind.; Alliston, Ontario; Canada; El Salto, Jalisco, Mexico and Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. 

A fifth U.S. auto plant, the Performance Manufacturing Center, in Marysville will begin production next year of the next-generation Acura NSX supercar.

Honda auto production in North America is supported by engine manufacturing operations in Anna, Ohio; Lincoln, Ala.; Alliston, Ontario and Celaya, Mexico and by the production of automatic transmissions in Russells Point, Ohio, Tallapoosa, Ga., and Celaya. 

Total investment in Honda's North American auto, engine and transmission facilities tops $17 billion, with these operations now employing more than 28,000 associates.

Honda's automotive manufacturing operations produce 11 different models, including five passenger cars and six light trucks, and have the capacity to produce 1.92 million automobiles each year.

Honda is supported by a network of 713 suppliers in North America, with purchasing of parts and components last year exceeding $26 billion.

Honda North America Automobile Production

Plant	Production Total (year started)
Honda of America Mfg.
Marysville Auto Plant East Liberty Auto Plant	12.2 Million (1982) 5.1 Million (1989)
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama	3.6 Million (2001)
Honda Manufacturing of Indiana	1.1 Million (2008)
Honda of Canada Mfg.
Plant 1 Plant 2	4.3 Million (1986) 2.9 Million (1998)
Honda de Mexico, El Salto, Jalisco	640,000 (1995)
Honda de Mexico, Celaya, Guanajuato	175,000 (2014)
Honda Cumulative North American Auto Production	30 Million

Acura to produce the new NSX Super-car in the USA at the Marysville Ohio plant.

 The next-generation Acura NSX is produced at the new, dedicated Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio, using domestic and globally sourced parts. With trial production already underway and production start-up scheduled for spring 2016. 

This world-class manufacturing facility employs groundbreaking techniques in weld, body construction, body painting, final assembly and quality confirmation to ensure the highest levels of precision and craftsmanship.

More details on the unique and innovative manufacturing processes at the PMC will be rolled out over the months leading up to the start of production, but the following highlights of the new facility were shared during the 2015  Monterey Automotive Week:

• Innovative blend of people and technology: throughout the PMC, NSX production is centered around the skills of approximately 100 experienced engineers and technicians building the NSX to precise levels of quality and craftsmanship.
• All-glass quality confirmation center: A total quality approach to production is evident not only in the mindset of every PMC technician, but in the very design of the facility, with an all-glass quality confirmation center located in the middle of the manufacturing floor.  This allows for technicians from every department to monitor all aspects of a vehicle as it moves through the entire production process.
• World's first weld technology: the world's first use of all robotic MIG welding employs eight robots to apply approximately 900 MIG welds. This surgical welding process results in a space frame that is incredibly precise, in addition to being ultra rigid and lightweight.
• Craftsmanship: hand craftsmanship complements high tech robotic processes throughout the assembly of the NSX:
  • Every bolt on the NSX is hand started by a PMC technician
  • Exterior body panels are installed manually at the end of assembly and from the inside out to ensure 100 percent symmetrical side-to-side fitment
  • Lasers are used to find door hem edges, fenders and door gaps in order to install all exterior panels without requiring adjustments
• Master engine builders: the NSX's 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine with dry sump is hand assembled by master builders at the nearby Anna, Ohio engine plant. Each engine takes over six hours to complete and is machine balanced
  • Each NSX power unit — engine, 9-speed dual clutch transmission with direct-drive electric motor, and front Twin Motor Unit – is bench-tested and broken-in (the engine to the equivalent of 150 driving miles) to ensure that every NSX is track-ready upon customer delivery
  • The engine build process was benchmarked against some of the company's race engine programs to ensure the highest possible quality and performance standards were achieved.