A Perfect Fit – Honda’s Growing Auto Production in North America

Nearly 30 years after we began building the Honda Accord in America, the news that Honda will build the fuel-efficient Honda Fit in our new plant in Mexico is an important addition to the existing portfolio of passenger cars and light trucks we already produce in North America.

Along with the announcement in January that we will build the Acura NSX in Ohio, the news about Fit means Honda will soon produce everything from subcompacts to super cars in North America - increasing our ability to more quickly meet the needs of our customers for fuel-efficient and affordable products.

Last year, more than 85 percent of the Honda and Acura models sold in America were built in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, using domestic and globally sourced parts, and this will reach more than 90 percent in the coming years.

We are investing $800 million in the new plant in Mexico - building upon our longstanding commitment to our existing operations in North America. And we are currently investing virtually the equivalent amount to expand and innovate our existing production operations in Ohio, Alabama and Indiana.

For example, in Ohio, we are investing more than $500 million at four different plants. This includes expanding our engine and transmission plants to produce the new, more fuel-efficient Honda Earth Dreams powertrain series. This series includes an all-new direct injection engine and highly fuel-efficient CVT transmission that will debut this fall on the all-new 2013 Honda Accord.

In Ohio, we also are expanding the assembly line, adding new vehicle painting technologies and constructing an on-site parts consolidation center at our East Liberty Plant. We have added a sophisticated new stamping press at the Marysville Auto Plant as well. We also returned the Marysville plant to full 2-shift production on both lines for the first time in the more than two years since the economic recession began.

In Alabama, we are investing $275 million to expand our auto plant and add a third stamping line that will help increase capacity by 40,000 units. This will add 140 jobs and introduce production of a fourth model next year, the Acura MDX, to go alongside the Honda Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline models.

In Indiana, 1,000 new jobs were created with the addition of a second production shift that doubled annual production volume to 200,000 units. This will lead to production next month of the all-new Acura ILX and ILX Hybrid sedans - the first hybrid car we will build in North America, and the first Indiana-built Acura.

And in Canada, we recently added production of the Honda CR-V to the lineup of products built there to help us meet demand for America's most popular SUV, which we also produce in Ohio and Mexico.

Together with the new plant in Mexico, these investments will increase our annual auto production capacity in North America from the existing 1.63 million units to 1.87 million units, enhance our flexibility and increase our ability to satisfy the needs of our customers in this ultra-competitive marketplace.

At the same time, this ongoing commitment to our North American manufacturing operations places the 33,000 Honda associates who live and work here, and the more than 600 suppliers who support our efforts, right in the middle of Honda's global strategy. That's a great place to be - and a perfect fit.

Courtesy of HondaMediaNewsroom

A Perfect Fit – Honda’s Growing Auto Production in North America

Nearly 30 years after we began building the Honda Accord in America, the news that Honda will build the fuel-efficient Honda Fit in our new plant in Mexico is an important addition to the existing portfolio of passenger cars and light trucks we already produce in North America.

Along with the announcement in January that we will build the Acura NSX in Ohio, the news about Fit means Honda will soon produce everything from subcompacts to super cars in North America - increasing our ability to more quickly meet the needs of our customers for fuel-efficient and affordable products.

Last year, more than 85 percent of the Honda and Acura models sold in America were built in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, using domestic and globally sourced parts, and this will reach more than 90 percent in the coming years.

We are investing $800 million in the new plant in Mexico - building upon our longstanding commitment to our existing operations in North America. And we are currently investing virtually the equivalent amount to expand and innovate our existing production operations in Ohio, Alabama and Indiana.

For example, in Ohio, we are investing more than $500 million at four different plants. This includes expanding our engine and transmission plants to produce the new, more fuel-efficient Honda Earth Dreams powertrain series. This series includes an all-new direct injection engine and highly fuel-efficient CVT transmission that will debut this fall on the all-new 2013 Honda Accord.

In Ohio, we also are expanding the assembly line, adding new vehicle painting technologies and constructing an on-site parts consolidation center at our East Liberty Plant. We have added a sophisticated new stamping press at the Marysville Auto Plant as well. We also returned the Marysville plant to full 2-shift production on both lines for the first time in the more than two years since the economic recession began.

In Alabama, we are investing $275 million to expand our auto plant and add a third stamping line that will help increase capacity by 40,000 units. This will add 140 jobs and introduce production of a fourth model next year, the Acura MDX, to go alongside the Honda Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline models.

In Indiana, 1,000 new jobs were created with the addition of a second production shift that doubled annual production volume to 200,000 units. This will lead to production next month of the all-new Acura ILX and ILX Hybrid sedans - the first hybrid car we will build in North America, and the first Indiana-built Acura.

And in Canada, we recently added production of the Honda CR-V to the lineup of products built there to help us meet demand for America's most popular SUV, which we also produce in Ohio and Mexico.

Together with the new plant in Mexico, these investments will increase our annual auto production capacity in North America from the existing 1.63 million units to 1.87 million units, enhance our flexibility and increase our ability to satisfy the needs of our customers in this ultra-competitive marketplace.

At the same time, this ongoing commitment to our North American manufacturing operations places the 33,000 Honda associates who live and work here, and the more than 600 suppliers who support our efforts, right in the middle of Honda's global strategy. That's a great place to be - and a perfect fit.

Courtesy of HondaMediaNewsroom

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White Plains Honda - (4.8) Star Review on DealerRater

• Myself and my fiance visited the dealership hoping to trade in our 2006 Honda civic. We were assisted by Sandy who was so nice and cordial that we both felt comfortable that we would come away with a car specifically a cr-v. Well we did in fact came away with a 2012 CR-V. Sandy and the other staff worked with us in a professional manner which we found to be very satisfying. The staff is very knowlegeable and accommodating. I wholeheartly recommend this dealership because of there excellent services. -SEBATURN554

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Thank you to Kaitlyn for sharing this review with us! Great job Keith, outstanding work!

White Plains Honda - (5) Star Review on GoogleMaps

• Keith was very helpful with finding the perfect used car for me. He was knowledgeable in his products and this was apparent when I was able to drive off the lot with a used car that was perfect. Keith was approachable friendly and never pressured me to buy the car now or it would not be here, as often used cars sales men do. -Kaitlyn

Thank you to the authors of these great reviews for sharing their feedback with us! Great work Keith and Gustavo!

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]White Plains Honda - Two (5) Star Reviews on DealerRater

• Keith Johnson hit all the right notes -- not a hard sell but answered all my concerns. The certified pre-owned CR-V that I bought worried me a little at first as it hadn't been cleaned yet. But true to his word, Keith made sure it looked practically new when I drove away with it. -ccon73
• I very much appreciated Keith's easy manner and 'no pressure' sales approach. He was friendly and knowledgeable and made the very stressful 'car buying experience' more pleasant. I felt comfortable to take as much time as I needed to make a decision (which was a long time!) and he worked with me to get the best deal possible. Gustavo was well prepared on the financial end with all the papers ready to sign, etc. and explained everything we needed to know. I would definitely recommend White Plains Honda. -kstradinger

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Thank you to the author of this great review for sharing their feedback with us! Great work Keith!

White Plains Honda - (4.8) Star Review on DealerRater

• Keith was very helpful with finding the perfect used car for me. He was knowledgeable in his products and this was apparent when I was able to drive off the lot with a used car that was perfect. Keith was approachable friendly and never pressured me to buy the car now or it would not be here, as often used cars sales men do. -kferg

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Thank you to the author of this great review for taking the time to share their feedback! Outstanding work Sandy, keep it up!

White Plains Honda - (4.8) Star Review on DealerRater

• Sandy was very helpful and worked hard to earn my business... straight forward and friendly all at the same time. Her enthusiasm along with her knowledge of the brand made it a very good experience. -nadinewax

Honda and Sprinkles Bake Up Sweet CR-V Marketing Program

American Honda has teamed up with Sprinkles Cupcakes on a delectable mall-based marketing program to promote interest in the segment-leading 2012 Honda CR-V. The Honda CR-V Mall Tour will provide free Sprinkles cupcakes by checking out the all new 2012 CR-V.

Kicking off this Thursday, March 22 at the Westfield Main Place Mall in Santa Ana, Calif., the Honda CR-V Mall Tour will center around a colorful Honda and Sprinkles branded display space, anchored by a 2012 Honda CR-V.

The Honda CR-V Mall tour will visit six prime retail locations from March 22 until May 6, 2012. Kicking off at the Westfield Main Place Mall in Santa Ana, the tour will make five additional stops: Irvine, Calif. (Irvine Spectrum, March 29 - April 1); Los Angeles (Westside Pavilion, April 12 - 15); Scottsdale, AZ (Scottsdale Fashion Square, April 19 - 22); Arlington, VA (Fashion Center at Pentagon City, April 26 - 29); Houston, TX (Houston Galleria, May 3 - 6).

Courtesy of HondaMediaNewsroom

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Honda Looks to Dealers to Boost Natural Gas Station Network

Honda Motor Co., the only automaker selling compressed natural gas-powered cars to U.S. drivers, wants some of its dealers to also install pumps to sell the fuel as its seeks to double sales of CNG vehicles.

Boosting sales of Indiana-built Civic Natural Gas sedans requires more fuel stations, Steve Center, U.S. vice president for environmental business development, said in an interview. Honda is negotiating with regulators in California, the biggest U.S. market for CNG vehicles, seeking to have pumps placed at two or more Honda dealerships this year, he said yesterday.

The 2012 Civic Natural Gas rolled off the line on October 11, 2011 at the Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC (HMIN). This marked the start of mass production of the all-new 2012 Civic Natural Gas as it moves to increase production of the alternative-fuel Civic to support an expanding network of certified Civic Natural Gas dealers across the U.S. Photograph: Homda News

“If the dealer had a fueling station, it would really reduce some of that concern for the customer,” Center said at Honda’s U.S. headquarters in Torrance, California. “It’s not our place to create infrastructure, but it’s a chicken-and-egg situation and we’re going to have to nurse that egg along.”

Honda’s strategy of marketing autos powered by natural gas, a domestically sourced fuel that’s cheaper than gasoline and emits less tailpipe exhaust, comes as U.S.-based competitors plan their own CNG models. General Motors Co. (GM) and Chrysler Group LLC this week both said they’re readying pickups that will run on the fuel.

The U.S. yesterday raised its forecast for natural gas output in 2012 by 0.4 percent and lowered its outlook for prices. Marketed gas production will average 67.91 billion cubic feet a day in 2012, up from 67.64 billion estimated in February, the Energy Department said in its monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook, released in Washington.

Unanswered Questions

The equivalent of a gallon of compressed natural gas cost an average of $2.13 in January, compared with $3.37 for regular gasoline, according to the Energy Department.

The International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles says on its website there were 1,000 stations and 112,000 natural gas vehicles in the U.S. as of December 2010.

“We’re adding stations rapidly,” said Richard Kolodziej, president of NGV America, a Washington-based trade group that lobbies for natural gas vehicles. “ If you are in an area where there aren’t any fueling stations, this is a great option,” he said of Honda’s plan.

Currently, 270 U.S. Honda dealers plan to sell the Civic Natural Gas, a revamped version of the Civic GX compact sold since the 1990s. The Tokyo-based carmaker’s initial goal is to sell “4,000 to 5,000” CNG vehicles annually, double the previous rate, Center said. Honda builds the model at its Greensburg, Indiana, plant.

‘Fill in Holes’

Details such as the cost of a CNG station at a dealership, how many vehicles it could serve a day and how many such facilities may be established are still being studied, Center said. Honda can work with dealers to obtain needed permits, apply for public incentives and provide financing, he said.

“Something like this helps fill in holes,” Center said. “We want to select a couple of test cases and walk through it.”

Honda hasn’t determined how many such dealer fuel stations may be opened in California and other states, he said. Center, whose previous assignments at Honda included managing U.S. advertising and Acura sales, said part of his new job includes finding uses for environmentally friendly technologies developed by the company.

The Civic Natural Gas sedan costs $26,155, or $2,100 more than a hybrid version of the compact model. The car was named 2012 Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles auto show in November.

The car averages 31 miles per gallon equivalent of fuel, and holds the equivalent of 8 gallons of compressed gas. Incentives for owners in California include a permit allowing a driver without passengers to use highway carpool lanes.

Courtesy of Bloomberg

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Thank you to the author of this review for sharing their feedback with us. Great work Sandy, keep it up!

White Plains Honda - (5) Star Review on DealerRater

• Sandy is an excellent asset to your company. I would highly recommend White Plains Honda because of her. -AKil

Meet Tim, this is his Civic. Where would you take yours?

Thank you to the authors of these great reviews for letting us know how we're doing! Amazing work team, keep it up!

White Plains Honda - Four Positive Reviews on DealerRater

• White Plains Honda is the best place to buy a car. The people are so friendly and nice. Keith Johnson helped me find the perfect car for me and it was exactly what I asked for. It was perfect. I got it right away. He has very good people skills and did a great job with my car! Gustavo also helped me with the paper work and finding the right price for me. It was so easy to walk out with my new car and I'm so happy! -ACotte
• In the past, I had a horrible experience at this dealer. However, my sales rep, Ivy was honest, helpful and made the purchase experience enjoyable. While previously I was simply waiting for my lease to expire to not work with Honda again, I am now enjoying another Honda Pilot and look forward to working with Ivy again in the future. -mhopkins13
• This is my 3rd lease at White Plains Honda. I love working with Donna Lozinsky. I have nothing but good things to say about her and the service I received -sla1048
• I am very pleased with the service that I received at White Plains Honda. Sandy was very helpful and a pleasure to work with. She was great at calling me back and getting the information that I needed. I would recommend her to others. -colleenmartin72

We have 0.9% APR Financing, but that is just one of the 3 Good Reasons we decided to have this sales event! Stop by White Plains Honda soon!

Thank you to the author of this great review for sharing their wonderful feedback with us! Great work team, keep it up!

White Plains Honda - (5) Star Review on DealerRater

• Jack did a great job and was very helpful in understanding the options and value of the CR-V. He helped me to switch my lease over with very little effort on my part. -derricm

Honda CR-V, Odyssey and Civic are Three of the 10 Best Family Cars of 2012, According to Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com

Three Honda vehicles have been named a 10 Best Family Car by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. The 2012 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda Odyssey and 2012 Honda Civic have all made Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com 10 Best Family Cars of 2012 list. The annual list rates vehicles on 'family-approved' attributes like available safety features, comfort, child-friendliness, strong consumer ratings and impressive Kelley Blue Book Total Cost of Ownership statistics.

"We are honored to have three members of the Honda lineup recognized as benchmark family cars by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing operations for American Honda. "To be recognized as providing the kind of safety, features and value required of the modern family machine speaks to the core attributes of every Honda vehicle."

Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com has been naming the best family cars each year since 2008. This is the ninth time Honda has made the list, having garnered a previous award for the Civic, three previous awards for the Odyssey and one for the Honda Crosstour.

Courtesy of HispanicBusiness

Thank you to the authors of these reviews for sharing their feedback with us! Keep up the great work team!

White Plains Honda - Two Positive Reviews on DealerRater

• Sandy not only had a friendly demeanor but she was very informative in the vehicles I was interested in. Overall, I'm happy with my purchase and I'm delighted to have worked with someone as helpful as her! :) -ChristineS
• Keith Johnson was friendly, energetic and helpful on a day when the computer was down. Gustavo Rengifo presented the financial aspects of our purchase precisely and professionally.  -johnhwolfe