Sunday, June 7, 2009

Where Are Honda Cars Made?

You've seen them in magazine ads, on television commercials and on the road. Honda is one of the world's best known and respected automotive brands. The company behind the cars is Honda Motor Company, Ltd., a multinational corporation based in Minami-Aoyama Nichome, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda designs, develops, manufactures and sells popular vehicles such as the Accord, the Civic, the CRV and many others. Honda cars are driven in many different parts of the world.

Not Everything is Done in Japan

Many people incorrectly assume that Japanese cars are manufactured in Japan. The truth is, the world is a much different place today than it was in the late '40's when Honda first started. Globalization has made it possible for multinational corporations to distribute their production facilities around the world for maximum efficiency. For example, even though the companies' world headquarters are in Japan, American Honda Motor Co. is based in Torrance, California. Honda has also created joint ventures around the world to facilitate operations in places such as China and India.

In terms of where the cars are actually made, the answer is - it depends. Honda has several assembly plants distributed around the world, each producing anywhere from only one to five different styles of automobiles. Depending on where in the world you live, and what type of vehicle you are wondering about, the actual geographical origin will vary. Below is a list of their manufacturing and assembly plants with details about what type of vehicles are made there. It is safe to assume that if you live closer to China than the U.S., the assembly plant closest to (or in) China that manufactures any given model is the one where that car came from.

Honda Manufacturing and Production Facilities

Japan

As of 2009, there were only two main manufacturing plants located in Japan.

The Honda Hamamatsu Factory in Hamamatsu, Japan manufactures cars, motorcycles and engines from the car manufacturers complete lineup.

There is another Japanese production facility located in Suzuka, Mie, Japan. Currently, this facility only produces one model - the Honda Fit.

China

The Dongfeng Honda Automobile Company, based in Wuhan, China opened in 2003. This assembly plant currently manufactures only the Honda CRV, but has plans to produce Honda Civics in the near future.

Indonesia

Honda Indonesia is the name of the factory located in Karawang, Indonesia. Currently, this manufacturing facility only produces the Honda Fit.

Thailand

In Thailand, Honda manufactures the Honda Fit in their factory located in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

Turkey

Honda has a factory in Turkey where it has manufactured cars of different styles since 1992.

New Zealand

Honda New Zealand manufactured cars from 1965 through 1998. The models that were produced in this facility include the Honda City, the Civic and the Accord.

Belgium

The production facility in Belgium makes only motorcycles.

England

In the UK, Honda has manufactured the Civic and the CRV in Swindon, England since 1992.

Brazil

Honda Amazonas Motorcycle is a Brazilian production facility that only manufactures motorcycles. The plant is located in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil and has made motorcycles since 1976.

Honda Brazil Automobile, a facility located in Indaiatuba, Sao Paolo, Brazil manufactures the Civic and the Fit.

United States

The Marysville Auto Plant in Marysville, Ohio makes Accords, Acuras and motorcycles.

The East Liberty Auto Plant, in East Liberty Ohio, manufactures the Civic, the CRV and the Honda Element.

Honda Manufacturing of Alabama is located in Lincoln, Alabama. The plant, which opened in 2001, manufactures vehicles such as the Honda Odyssey, the Honda Pilot and the Honda J Engine.

Formula Honda Toronto offers both new and used cars Toronto and in the GTA - with a huge variety of cars, trucks, SUV's and vans.