Associates at the largest Honda auto engine plant in the world today celebrated the 15 millionth engine produced since Honda of America Mfg., Inc. opened the Anna Engine Plant in 1985.
As the milestone engine was finished, a $75 million expansion project at the plant continued toward completion later this year. The project will transfer connecting rod and camshaft production from Japan to Ohio.
“Today we are not only celebrating a production milestone, but the efforts of our associates, past and present, to satisfy 15 million customers,” said Dan Smith, Honda of America vice president and plant manager of the Anna Engine Plant.
“Engines power our products. But people power our engines, and the outstanding efforts of Honda associates in Ohio are the reason we continue to invest in the expansion of our operations,” Smith said.
The 15 millionth engine, produced on Line 2, is a 6-cylinder motor designed for a Honda Accord Coupe* to be assembled 45 miles to the east at the Marysville Auto Plant. The Anna Engine Plant has three assembly lines and two foundries, one for aluminum and one for ferrous casting. The plant produces drive shafts, connecting rods, brake components and other parts, as well as all of its own engine blocks and heads.
The Anna facility will serve as the engine supply source for the Honda Manufacturing of Indiana plant under construction in Greensburg, Ind. Production at this new plant begins in fall 2008.
The Marysville Auto Plant will have a celebration of its own later this year. It was the site 25 years ago of the first Japanese car built in America – a Honda Accord. The anniversary coincides with the production of an all-new Accord for the ’08 model year.
The Anna Engine plant reached its milestone 22 years after it opened. At its current production rate – 1.15 million engines annually – it will take only 13 years for Anna to build another 15 million engines.
Engines from Anna power the Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe, Civic Sedan, Element and CR-V, and the Acura TL and RDX made in Ohio – as well as the Honda Civic Sedan, Coupe and Si, the Ridgeline and the Acura MDX and CSX models built at two Honda plants in Alliston, Ontario.
The Anna plant has been expanded many times, with the current project transferring additional connecting rod and crankshaft business from Japan. Honda’s investment in the Anna Engine Plant now exceeds $1.4 billion.
Honda employs more than 15,000 Ohioans, including 12,500 at Honda of America. Honda of America investment alone in Ohio totals more than $6.2 billion.
- Honda vehicles are produced using domestic and globally sourced parts and materials.
