Honda plans US$3 billion Ohio assembly plant focused on hybrids
Production is scheduled to begin in 2029, with annual capacity of up to 240,000 vehicles and more than 2,000 jobs expected.
Honda said it will invest US$3 billion in an Ohio vehicle assembly plant, marking its first new U.S. facility of that kind since 2008. The factory will primarily produce hybrids and is scheduled to open in 2029.
Located between the company's Marysville and East Liberty factories, the plant will also be capable of producing gasoline and electric vehicles. Honda said the investment would create more than 2,000 jobs and bring its annual U.S. production capacity to about 1.3 million vehicles.
The expansion follows a retreat from electric vehicles. CNBC reported that Honda canceled its North American EV lineup in March and put an US$11 billion Canadian EV and battery project on hold indefinitely in May.
Honda's Ohio battery factory, originally built to supply those electric vehicles, now produces batteries for data centers.
The automaker plans to introduce 15 hybrid models globally by 2030. It is also increasing production of hybrid engines and transmissions across facilities in Ohio, Alabama and Georgia.
