Honda Manufacturing of Alabama Reaches Production Milestone - 1 millionth Alabama-built Honda Produced

LINCOLN, Ala., Nov. 3, 2006 -- Associates at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC (HMA) today reached a production milestone at 10:25 a.m. CST with the completion of the 1 millionth Honda vehicle and V-6 engine built in Alabama.

Honda associates Janice Lowe of Ashville, and John Chapman of Talladega, drove the Midnight Blue Pearl Metallic 2007 Odyssey EXL, off the line. The roll-off of HMA's 1 millionth vehicle comes less than five years after the start of mass production at the $1.3 billion facility on Nov. 14, 2001

"Our associates' impressive ability to reach this production milestone so quickly has enabled Honda to meet the needs of a record number of customers," said Rick Schostek, HMA senior vice president. "Even more impressive has been their commitment to provide these customers with products of the highest quality. We salute the accomplishments and determination of our outstanding team of associates."

HMA is the sole North American production source of the Odyssey minivan, a designation earned with the start of production of the 2005 model Odyssey. In October, it was announced that HMA would also become the sole production source of the Honda Pilot sport utility vehicle.

Since the start of production in 2001, HMA's production mix breaks down to about 810,000 Odyssey minivans and about 190,000 Pilot SUVs.

HMA employs more than 4,500 associates at its Lincoln facility. Production on the two assembly lines at HMA's 3.2-million-square-foot facility exceeds 300,000 vehicles and V-6 engines annually.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061103/CLF054
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN5
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com