(July 18, 2012) GREENSBURG, Ind. — Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN) announced today that it is investing $40 million to increase annual production capacity by 50,000 units to a total of 250,000 vehicles.

The plant will hire approximately 300 new production associates later this year in preparation for the increased production that will start early next year.

 Significantly, early next year, HMIN will add production of the Civic Hybrid, Honda's most popular hybrid model in the United States. Indiana was the first Honda plant in North America to build a hybrid vehicle when it started Acura ILX Hybrid production in April. 



These latest announcements follow the start of a second shift of production last fall at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana that added approximately 1,000 jobs. HMIN produces the popular Civic Sedan and the Civic Natural Gas on the same assembly line with the Acura ILX.

Considering current Honda Civic Natural Gas, Acura ILX Hybrid and future Civic Hybrid production, HMIN boasts the most diverse alternative-fuel production capability of any plant in North America.



"Our team in Indiana has successfully managed many challenges in its first four years, including the launch of three all-new models and the expansion of our production capacity is a result of their efforts," said Senior Vice President Bob Nelson. "We are excited about these new opportunities for our plant, because it shows that the customer is embracing the products we make here in Indiana."



Since late last year, Honda's seven automobile production plants in North America have been operating at or above their full straight-time capacity, which currently totals 1.63 million vehicles per year. In addition to the new second shift at the Indiana plant, Honda's plant in Marysville, Ohio, resumed second-shift production on Line 1 late last year.