Honda Achieves Production Milestone in Canada

Honda builds its six-millionth vehicle at Alliston plant

TORONTO, Nov. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - Honda is celebrating the hard work and dedication of generations of Associates today, as the company announced it has built its six-millionth vehicle in Canada. This impressive feat took place during the company's 26th year of Canadian vehicle production in Alliston, Ontario, home to Honda of Canada Mfg.

Honda became the first Japanese automaker to manufacture cars in Canada in 1986 when the company opened the doors of its Alliston, Ontario plant. Since then, Honda of Canada Mfg. has manufactured several models including Honda Accord, Pilot and Ridgeline, as well as Acura EL and CSX vehicles. The plant currently builds CR-V, Canada's top selling import SUV, as well as the Acura MDX and ZDX models. Alliston also produces the Honda Civic, Canada's best selling passenger car for 14 consecutive years.

"Nearly 1.7 million Honda Civics have been proudly parked in driveways all over this country," said Dave Gardner, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Honda Canada Inc. "Our plant capacity was 50,000 vehicles when we started and we're now building 390,000 vehicles per year. This growth is the result of hard work and dedication of all the Associates who have worked with us over the years to produce the quality and reliability that Honda customers truly value."

Honda Canada gives back to the Alliston Community

To mark the six millionth Honda vehicle built in Canada, Honda Canada donated an all-new Honda Civic Sedan to Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston. The car will be used as the centrepiece of a fundraising initiative to support the hospital's much-needed operating room renovation.

"Stevenson Memorial Hospital is a very important part of the Alliston community and our milestone was made possible through the hard work of so many who live and work in this community," said Gardner. "On behalf of Honda Canada, I'd like to congratulate the efforts of Honda Associates and hope this donation helps to kick off a new era of care in this community."

"This donation will play an important role in achieving our fundraising goals for Stevenson Memorial Hospital" said Glenn Rae, Chair, Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation "We're proud to have Honda in our community and honoured to be recipients of a vehicle that was built by the very people that our hospital serves."

Quick Facts:

• Honda celebrated its 43rd anniversary in Canada in April 2012
• In November 2011, Honda of Canada Mfg. celebrated its 25th year of production in Canada
• Honda directly employs approximately 4,700 manufacturing and sales Associates coast-to-coast, and indirectly employs more than 19,000 Canadians through our national dealership networks
• Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) produces the Honda CR-V, Civic Coupe, Sedan and Si models, as well as the Acura MDX and ZDX
• HCM has a production capacity of approximately 390,000 vehicles annually
• In 2011, 51% of Honda Canada's vehicles sold were made at HCM in Alliston, Ontario. With the addition of CR-V production at HCM in 2012, more than 70% of Honda vehicles sold in Canada will be produced at HCM
• The Honda Civic achieved Canada's top-selling passenger car status in 2011 for the 14th consecutive year reporting annual sales of 55,090 units
• Honda's investment exceeds $2.6 billion in Canadian operations and 6 million units produced
• HCM sources approximately $1.1 billion in goods yearly from Canadian suppliers

About Honda Canada
Honda Canada has sold approximately 3.6 million Honda and Acura passenger cars and light-duty trucks in Canada since 1973. Of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in Canada in 2011, more than 96% will be produced at the company's assembly plants in North America.

Image with caption: "Honda celebrates the sixth millionth vehicle produced at its assembly plant in Alliston, Ontario. To mark this milestone Honda donated an all-new Civic sedan to Stevenson Memorial Hospital to support ongoing fundraising initiatives. (Left to right: Gilles Madore, Vice President, Honda of Canada Mfg., Dave Gardner, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Honda Canada Inc., Annette Jones, President and CEO, Stevenson Memorial Hospital, Glenn Rae, President, SMH Foundation.) (CNW Group/Honda Canada Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121127_C3881_PHOTO_EN_21295.jpg

SOURCE: Honda Canada Inc.

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