Honda to Resume Second-Shift Production in Canada

More Than 400 New Positions To Be Added

ALLISTON, ON, March 30 /CNW/ - Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) is scheduled to add a second production shift to its Plant 2 facility in early 2011 that will increase daily output from 400 to 600 units per day, and will allow HCM to add more than 400 new positions.

"We are pleased to be making this announcement as the Canadian economy continues to show signs of recovery," said Manabu Nishimae, president and CEO of Honda Canada Inc.

HCM produces the Honda Civic sedan, Acura MDX sport utility vehicle and Acura ZDX crossover on the Plant 2 assembly line. HCM's Plant 1 produces the Honda Civic coupe and sedan, as well as the Canadian-exclusive Acura CSX luxury compact sedan. The HCM engine plant produces 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engines for the Honda Civic.

In 2009, more than 52 per cent of Honda and Acura vehicles sold in Canada were made at Honda's HCM plant, with a total 91 percent made in North America - more than any other global automaker.

Honda has invested more than $2.6 billion in HCM's two assembly plants in Canada with a capacity to produce 390,000 vehicles and an engine plant that can produce up to 200,000 engines annually. Honda of Canada Mfg. began production at Plant 1 in 1986 and at the adjacent Plant 2 facility in 1998. HCM began engine production in a new facility at the same site in 2008. In February 2009, HCM reached the 5-million unit mark in cumulative vehicle production in Canada.

For further information: Lisa Timpf, [phone], ext 2020; Richard Jacobs, [phone]