Honda to invest $40M in Alabama plant expansion

Honda announced August 14 that it will expand its Lincoln, Ala., factory again, with a $40 million project to enlarge its engine-plant operation.

The project will add more than 41,000 square feet to the facility, as well as 20 jobs. New high-pressure and low-pressure aluminum die-cast equipment and furnaces, along with low-pressure heat treat equipment and additional sand mold capabilities, will enable Honda to produce more engine components within the plant.

Since the automaker's first Alabama assembly line opened in November 2001, Honda has added an engine plant, cranked up a second assembly line and nearly completed a $70 million expansion of its original engine factory.

The Lincoln plant makes the Odyssey minivan and the Pilot sport utility vehicle along with the V-6 engines that go in them. The $1.3 billion plant employs 4,500 people and can turn out 300,000 vehicles and engines each year.