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Honda of America Mfg. Launches 1998 Accord

25 September 1997

Honda of America Mfg. Launches 1998 Accord

    MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Sept. 25 -- Honda of America Mfg.
celebrated launch of the all-new 1998 Accord Sedan and Coupe today, during a
ceremony outside the Marysville Auto Plant.  More than 5,000 associates and
guests attended the event, held on a multi-level stage with five generations
of Accord models produced here since 1982.
    The ceremony coincided with the start of sales of the 1998 Accord Sedan at
Honda dealers across the nation.  Coupe models, featuring distinctive styling
from the Sedan, go on sale Oct. 25.  Separately, American Honda Motor Co.
announced pricing for the new Accord line-up in Detroit today.
    Underscoring Honda of America's growing responsibility as a regional
leader in Honda's world-wide operations, the new Accord is manufactured
exclusively at the Marysville Auto Plant for the North American market. It
also will be exported to markets throughout the world.
    Takeo Fukui, President, Honda of America Mfg., said the Accord is
extremely important for Honda in a market that is extremely competitive.
    "We are building a better automobile, one that offers more space, more
features and more value for the customer without sacrificing performance and
quality," Fukui said.  "I have great confidence that this new Accord --
America's Accord -- will be our biggest hit yet."
    The 1998 Accord models move into the mid-size class with much larger
interiors and offer enhanced safety and security features; more powerful, more
fuel efficient and cleaner engines; improved ride and handling; and an
extended list of standard equipment.  The new Accords have an EPA domestic
content rating of 97 percent.  The new V-6 engine and virtually all Accord
transmissions are made in the U.S.
    In spite of the increased manufacturing complexity for the new Accord, Tim
Downing, Accord Engineering Project Leader, said production rampup for the new
model is being done in record time.
    "We have accomplished the fastest full model change in our history, with
no plant shutdown," Downing said.  "And while doing that, we created two
virtually separate models -- the Coupe and Sedan -- for two different
markets."
    Honda of America Mfg. employs 12,500 associates at its four plants in
Ohio, including 5,800 at the Marysville Auto Plant.  In addition to the Accord
models, products manufactured in those plants include the Honda Civic Sedan
and Coupe; the Acura CL Coupe; the Gold Wing, Valkyrie and Shadow motorcycles
and FourTrax ATVs; and engines and drivetrain components for both automobiles
and motorcycles.

SOURCE  Honda of America Mfg., Inc.

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