Honda Canada Not Making Sport Utility Vehicles

09/09/96

Reuters has reported that Honda Motor Co Ltd in Canada has announced that it will not increase the expansion of its Alliston plant to produce a sport utility vehicle for the North American market.

Tod Fowler of Honda Canada told Reuters that the currrent expansion at its plant in Alliston, Ontario ($300 million, Canadian), is strictly dedicated for minivan production.

"There is an expansion, but it's not for a sport utility vehicle," said Fowler. "It is for a full size mini-van to debut the fall of 1998."

The company made the announcement to contradict a Toronto Globe and Mail report that said it would increase the Alliston expansion to include production of a sport utility vehicle that Honda would unveil in January, 1997.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel