LINCOLN — Honda Motor Company will shift all North American production of its popular minivan, the Odyssey, to its Lincoln plant beginning this fall, the company announced Sunday.The move comes as the company unveiled its production version of the new Honda SUT, a light truck, to be built at Honda of Canada Manufacturing. In order to make room for the new model, it was necessary to shift all production of the Odyssey from the Canadian plant to Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, according to a press release.
The production shift is to take place as Honda begins to manufacture the newly redesigned 2005 Odyssey, the release stated.
Company spokesperson Ted Pratt said the decision to move all production of the Odyssey to Honda Manufacturing of Alabama is a reflection of the company’s confidence in the relatively new facility.
"We're still a young plant," Pratt said. "We're a good plant, and Honda is very proud."
The original assembly line at HMA, open since November 2001, will exclusively manufacture the 2005 Odyssey, while the duties of the newly constructed number two line will be split between the Honda Pilot and the minivan, the release stated.
Pratt said that by shifting all production to HMA, Honda will better be able to meet the needs of its customers.
"The great thing about HMA being the sole supplier of the Odyssey is that it will enable us to meet customer demand faster," Pratt said.
Although the shift in production does not mean additional jobs at Honda, Pratt said that he hopes the move will attract more suppliers to the area.
"We leave business decisions like that up to our suppliers," Pratt said, but he added that it may draw suppliers closer to the plant for reasons of economic feasibility.
"It's really just good news for us and everyone in the five-county area," Pratt said. "We are extremely proud of our workers in Alabama and this shows that," Pratt said.
Last year the plant made 167,884 Odyssey minivans and V-6 engines — almost 18,000 more than the company had estimated, and 55 percent higher than in 2002, the Associated Press reported. When both assembly lines are fully operational, the plant is expected to produce 300,000 vehicles a year with a work force of 4,300.
"We will soon have the capability to produce light trucks flexibly among three production lines at two plants in Alabama and Canada," said Koki Hirashima, president of Honda of America Manufacturing. "This will further enhance our ability to respond more flexibly and quickly to the needs of our customers."
—The Associated Press contributed to this report
