Honda of America will convert a plant at its Central Ohio complex as the site for assembling its redesigned Acura NSX passenger vehicle. The $70-million project, called the Performance Manufacturing Center, will be completed in two years, the automaker announced.
Honda has two other assembly plants in Ohio, at Marysville, and East Liberty, and also casts blocks and builds engines at Anna, Ohio. It has an R&D operation in Raymond, Ohio, and a parts center in Troy, Ohio. In all, the company has 14 manufacturing operations in the U.S.
Honda did not detail the scope of the refurbishment project. It said the new Performance Manufacturing Center would be “a unique manufacturing operation” employing approximately 100 skilled workers it will select from its current Ohio operations in Ohio.
"Thirty years ago, building cars in America was a big dream. Working together, here in Ohio and across North America we turned this dream into reality," stated Honda of America president and CEO Hidenobu Iwata.
"The location of this facility is in the midst of one of the greatest collections of engineering and production talent in the world. So, it makes sense that we will renew the dream and build this high-tech, supercar in Marysville, Ohio," Iwata continued. The Acura assembly plant will be adjacent to the Marysville, Ohio, Auto Plant.
In addition to assembling the new NSX, Honda's engine plant in Anna, Ohio, will assemble the new car’s powertrain.
The Acura NSX was introduced in 1989, but was discontinued in 2005. The new version will be an all-wheel-drive hybrid vehicle, powered by a V-6 engine and three electric motors. Mass production will begin in 2015.
The new NSX is being developed by California-based Honda R&D Americas Inc., with input from the research center in Raymond, Ohio.
Honda R&D Americas chief engineer Ted Klaus is leading a global team developing the new NSX, and Clement D' Souza, Honda of America associate chief engineer, is coordinating the production program.
"This new plant will be as unique as the vehicle we will build here," D'Souza stated. "In creating the plan for this plant, we looked closely at each process and determined the perfect blend of associate craftsmanship and technology to adopt a new approach to manufacturing."
