New Honda Plant Brings Hope to Indiana Town

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Washington DC November 18, 2008; The AIADA newsletter reported that with the domestic automotive industry teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, Monday's grand opening of Honda's Civic assembly plant in Greensburg, Indiana was a dream come true for this town of 12,000.

"Right now, some of the other manufacturing in Indiana is kind of struggling," said Steve Butz, 41, who grew up in Greensburg and works in Honda's new plant. "So this brings hope. Now there is hope for everyone here."

The Detroit Free Press reports that as Honda celebrated the opening of its $550-million, nonunion plant, capable of producing 200,000 vehicles annually, the contrast between the healthy Asian automaker and its ailing domestic rivals caused workers and politicians alike to celebrate.

When Honda announced it was hiring 900 employees, 33,000 people applied. Honda eventually plans to employ about 2,000 at the plant, which started production in October.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said he remembers the moment Honda called him to say the company had picked Indiana. "To me this was the corner, this was the turning point, that the world recognized" Indiana's capabilities, Daniels said at the plant's dedication Monday.

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