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Honda Moves Forward in Alabama, Names New Company

9 December 1999

Honda Moves Forward in Alabama, Names New Company

    LINCOLN, Ala., Dec. 9 -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc.,
today announced "Honda Manufacturing of Alabama" as the new company that will
manufacture vehicles and engines in Lincoln, Ala., beginning in 2002.
    "Our name reflects Honda's strong commitment to Alabama," said Koichi
Amemiya, president of American Honda and chief operating officer of Honda's
Americas Region.  "Given the roots we are establishing in this great state,
we're proud to have Alabama in our name."
    Honda Manufacturing of Alabama will employ approximately 1,500 associates
when it reaches its twin annual capacities of 120,000 vehicles and 120,000
engines.  It will be built on a 1,350-acre tract 40 miles east of Birmingham.
Construction of the 1.7 million-sq.-ft. facility is expected to begin in mid-
2000, with engine and vehicle production to begin in spring 2002.
    Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, formed in December 1999, is a wholly-
owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
    Honda began operations in North America in 1959 with the establishment of
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda's first overseas subsidiary.  Automobile
sales began in the U.S. in 1970.  Honda began automobile manufacturing in the
U.S. in 1982 and in Canada in 1986.  Today, Honda operates nine manufacturing
facilities in North America, including two U.S. auto plants, a Canadian auto
plant, an auto plant in Mexico, a U.S. engine plant, a U.S. motorcycle plant,
a U.S. all-terrain vehicle plant, a U.S. power equipment plant, and a U.S.
transmission plant.  In addition, Honda has established in the U.S. a
production engineering company, three major R&D centers, and two proving
centers.