| Honda Motor Co. officially breaks ground for its $550 | | | | customers in America." |
| million-worth plant in Indiana. The groundbreaking | | | | "Over the years, we will ask the associates of Honda |
| ceremony of the new automobile plant, known as the | | | | Manufacturing of Indiana for their ideas to make our |
| Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC (HMIN), was held | | | | products better and the plant the safest place it can |
| yesterday. The new plant with 2,000 associates will | | | | be," said Uenohara, the new president of Honda |
| produce the popular Honda Civic sedan and the mass | | | | Manufacturing of Indiana. "This is the Honda way and |
| production will start in fall next year. | | | | this spirit will guide us at Honda Manufacturing of |
| The HMIN's first president will be Yuzo Uenohara, who | | | | Indiana." |
| previously held the position of senior vice president at | | | | The hiring of the company for the Indiana facility will |
| the Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC. The | | | | not start until late this year. Advertisements started |
| company first announced its plans to build Indiana plant | | | | February 21. The advertisements cover non-production |
| in June 2006. The building of a new plant is aimed at | | | | positions like automotive engineering, information |
| meeting the growing customer demand. | | | | technology, purchasing and administration. Said |
| The HMIN will be the automaker’s seventh auto | | | | advertisements received over 6,000 responses. |
| plant in North America and one of 17 major Honda | | | | Moreover, the hiring is expected to start in late 2007. |
| manufacturing facilities in the said territory. It is also | | | | Indiana plant’s major production processes include |
| aimed at bolstering Honda's total North American | | | | stamping, welding, painting, plastic injection molding, |
| automobile production capacity from 1.4 million units to | | | | sub-assembly as well as final assembly operations. |
| over 1.6 million units in 2008 as well as boost the | | | | The assembly and mass production of Honda Civic |
| employment in North America to more than 37,000 | | | | sedan for the model year 2009 is set to begin in fall |
| associates and capital investment in North America to | | | | 2008. |
| more than $9 billion. | | | | In 2006, the automaker has manufactured more than |
| "In Indiana we will create an efficient and flexible | | | | 1.16 million Honda and Acura passenger cars and |
| manufacturing environment that is a great place for | | | | trucks in North America. In that same year, 77 percent |
| everyone to work," said Koichi Kondo, the president & | | | | of over 1.5 million Honda and Acura vehicles were |
| CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., and chief | | | | purchased by American consumers. A number of |
| operating officer of Honda's North American Regional | | | | purchasers consider auto add-ons like Weathertech |
| operations. "In this way, we are breaking ground for | | | | mats and other accessories to ensure utmost |
| more than an auto plant. We are breaking new ground | | | | protection without compromising style. |
| in our relationship with the people of Indiana and our | | | | |