Honda Motors North American Assembly Plants Expected to Reach Full Capacity by 2006

Honda Motor Co. recently announced that it expects its plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to reach maximum production capacity close to 2006, coinciding with the company's plans to start building three more light Honda trucks.

Honda said it will be shifting vehicle production of Honda CR-V sport-utility vehicles for the U.S. to Ohio from overseas in the United Kingdom. Adding that it will also build the new Honda Ridgeline pickup truck in Ontario Canada beginning in 2005. It's partner Acura will produce an SUV in Ohio in 2006 as well.

"The CR-V, Ridgeline and Acura SUV will fill the rest of Honda's expected capacity in North America to make 1.4 million autos annually," Honda spokesman Yuzuru Matsuno said. Adding that Honda doesn't plan to add a sixth factory in North America, where it sells the most vehicles. Matsuno stated "There is always the potential to squeeze out more from existing facilities. It's too early to think about an additional plant."

Honda Motors' Marysville and East Liberty Ohio plants will each get one of the models, stated Ed Miller, a company spokesman for Honda's North American manufacturing unit in Marysville. The two Ohio factories can make up to 680,000 autos a year. The Lincoln, Alabama plant is forecasted to reach full production of 300,000 vehicles annually in 2005. The plant builds Honda Odyssey minivans and Honda Pilot SUVs. Two plants in Alliston, Ontario make Civic cars and the Acura MDX and Pilot SUVs and is expected to be at full capacity of 390,000 units per year after the Honda Ridgeline is added," Mr. Miller said. Honda's plant in El Salto, Mexico, which builds about 30,000 Accord cars a year, is not expected to expand.

Toyota, Honda and Nissan currently hold a record 34.5% of U.S. light vehicle sales through November 2004, up from 32.8% a year earlier.