2 millionth Alabama-built Honda rolls off assembly line

Associates at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama LLC (HMA) on September 3 reached a production milestone at 8:28 a.m. with the completion of the 2 millionth Honda vehicle and V-6 engine built in Alabama.

The Taffeta White 2011 Pilot EXL Touring, was driven off the line by HMA associate Sandy Miller of Oxford, Ala. Passengers in the vehicle included Honda associates: Robert Dunham, Goodwater; Michael Jones, Trussville; David Lyner, Oxford; Doris Ashworth, Goodwater; and Michael Tuggle, Gardendale.

The roll-off of HMA's 2 millionth vehicle comes less than nine years after the start of mass production at the $1.4 billion facility on November 14, 2001.

"The commitment and dedication of each associate has allowed HMA to quickly reach this production milestone and meet the needs of a record number of customers," said Nobu Sanui, HMA president and CEO. "In October of 2006, we celebrated building the one millionth HMA Honda. And today, less than four years later, we have built our two millionth Honda in 'Sweet Home Alabama.'"

HMA is the sole North American production source of the Pilot sport utility vehicle, the Odyssey minivan, the Ridgeline pickup and the V-6 engines that power each vehicle. HMA also shares production of the Accord V6 Sedan with the Marysville Auto Plant in Marysville, Ohio.

On August 31, 2010, HMA began production of the all-new 2011 Odyssey minivan, which is scheduled to arrive at dealerships in late September. HMA employs more than 4,000 associates at its 3.5-million-square-foot Lincoln facility and has the capacity to produce as many as 300,000 vehicles and engines each year.