The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Honda Opens New Port Facility in Richmond, California

TORRANCE, Calif.--American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced the opening of a third West Coast port facility, in Richmond, Calif. The company will shift a substantial portion of its current vehicle import operations from the port of San Diego to the new Richmond facility. The expansion will help American Honda to more efficiently serve its Honda and Acura dealers in Northern California and will support greater rail capacity for transporting vehicles to points east.

The new 80-acre facility, known as the Point Potrero Auto Center, will allow American Honda to greatly decrease shipments of vehicles by tractor trailer from Southern California to Northern California, helping to reduce CO2 emissions associated with new-vehicle distribution. The facility will also support efficient east-bound rail shipments critical to Honda's overall logistics network.

“Establishing these operations in Richmond will help us secure and balance our long-term logistics needs,” said Dennis Manns, assistant vice president of logistics for American Honda. “This additional port not only ensures future rail and port capacity, but it also has a net environmental benefit, a key goal for Honda in all of its operations.”

American Honda’s port expansion is estimated to eliminate 1,720 truck trips from San Diego to northern California, totaling more than 1.5 million miles of truck travel each year. This will result in an annual reduction of approximately 3,200 metric tons of CO2 from American Honda’s logistics operations in the region.

In addition to ports in Richmond and San Diego, American Honda operates a port facility in Portland, Oregon.

About Honda

In 2009, Honda marked the 50th anniversary of its operations in America with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in 1959. Today, Honda operates 14 major manufacturing facilities in North America, including nine plants in the U.S. The company employs more than 31,000 associates in the region and annually purchases more than $19.5 billion in parts and materials from suppliers in North America. Approximately 80 percent of Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the U.S. are manufactured* in North America.

Honda Web site: http://www.honda.com

Honda Environmental Report: http://corporate.honda.com/environment/2009-report

Honda Multimedia Newsroom (Journalists): http://www.hondanews.com

Honda on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/honda

Honda on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/alicia_at_honda

Honda on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/hondanews

* using domestic and globally sourced parts