Honda Vows to Expand Ohio Hybrid Manufacturing with $3 Billion Plant

Honda will invest $3 billion to build a new automobile manufacturing plant in central Ohio, a move designed to increase the production of hybrid electric vehicles in North America. The facility will be located north of Columbus in Marysville, where the company has operated for decades.

Bob Nelson, executive vice president of Honda of America, stated that the new site will be one of the most advanced in the company's global network. He indicated that the project will generate more than 2,000 new jobs and add annual production capacity for 240,000 vehicles. Nelson confirmed that production is expected to commence in 2029.

The investment is part of a larger strategy to expand Honda's manufacturing footprint across Ohio, Alabama, and Georgia. Nelson described the plan as a way to strengthen an integrated U.S. production network. This network will focus on producing hybrid-electric vehicles along with the engines and hybrid systems that power them. The new plant complements an existing battery facility in Jeffersonville, which operates as a joint venture between Honda and LG.

Nelson noted that the production lines are designed for flexibility to match shifting customer preferences. He reported that hybrid vehicles currently account for nearly 30% of the company's product lineup. The announcement coincides with Honda approaching its 50-year anniversary of building products in the United States.

Gov. Mike DeWine welcomed the investment, noting that he is the ninth governor to work with Honda as the company has grown its presence in the state. DeWine described the relationship as a partnership that has spanned five decades.

The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a tax credit for the project around the time of the announcement. JobsOhio, the state's nonprofit job creation agency, listed the deal on its website but did not publish specific details regarding the financial terms of the credit.