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Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM), a division of Honda Canada Inc., welcomed The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada to its Alliston manufacturing plant, home to the made-in-Canada Honda CR-V and Honda Civic. The visit showcased the massive effort undertaken since the 2022 investment announcement to upgrade Honda’s manufacturing facilities, drive down greenhouse gas emissions and push further ahead on the company’s path to electrification. The retooling of HCM production lines secured thousands of well-paying, high-quality jobs in Alliston and throughout Honda’s extensive Canadian supplier network.

“Honda of Canada Manufacturing is a proud, Canadian innovation story,” said Jean Marc Leclerc, President and CEO of Honda Canada. “But companies like ours face a huge amount of complexity as we evolve our business and transition to an electrified future. We’ve accomplished a great deal but we have more to do to have battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles represent 100 per cent of our North American vehicle sales by 2040.”

Highlights of the 2022 investment announcement
One year ago, HCM announced its $1.38 billion investment over six years to upgrade its manufacturing plants with new and innovative technologies, processes, supply chain and vehicle research and development programs, including retooling and upgrading of equipment to manufacture the all-new 2023 CR-V. HCM also partnered with both the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario, with each level of government providing equal and conditional grants of $131.6 million. The investment brought Honda’s total Canadian facilities investments to more than $6.5 billion since 1986 when Honda became the first Japanese auto maker to build a Canadian manufacturing facility.

HCM became the lead global plant for the all-new 2023 CR-V and North America lead plant for the CR-V Hybrid crossover. By taking the lead in developing the initial CR-V prototype, HCM implemented new manufacturing technologies, upgraded the tooling processes in Alliston and established a revised suppliers’ network. Hybrids will eventually represent about 50% of CR-V sales.

Jobs and outcomes
The retooling of production lines at HCM secured over 4,000 well-paying, high-quality jobs in Alliston and throughout Honda’s extensive Canadian supplier network. The financial commitments saw a range of enhanced job training initiatives that include hybrid component assembly and battery handling, as well as research and development programs that further reduce environmental impacts of vehicle production. A sub-assembly line was created to accommodate the unique challenges of building batteries for hybrid powertrains. The first hybrid vehicle built by Honda Canada rolled off the line this past November.

The investments will have a lasting benefit for the Honda Canada dealer network, partnering suppliers, and the overall Canadian auto industry, including employees, their families, and the communities where they live and work.

To subscribe to the latest Honda Canada news and updates, please visit www.hondanews.ca. Speaking remarks and today’s photos are also available from the site.

Related past news releases for background information:

About Honda of Canada Mfg.
Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) began production in Alliston, Ontario in November 1986 and is Honda’s only manufacturing facility in Canada. HCM’s three plants sit on 890 acres, encompass approximately 4 million square feet, and employ more than 4,200 associates. The plants have the capacity to produce more than 400,000 vehicles and 190,000 engines annually. HCM manufactures two of Honda’s best-selling models, the Honda Civic and the CR-V, along with the 1.5 litre, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. HCM’s capital investment is over $4.7 billion, and it will produce its 10 millionth vehicle in 2023. For more information, please visit www.hondacanadamfg.ca.

About Honda Canada
Honda Canada Inc. was founded in 1969 and is the parent company for both Honda and Acura vehicle brands in Canada. Since 1986, the company has produced Honda engines and almost 10 million cars and light trucks at its Alliston, Ontario manufacturing facilities, where the Honda Civic and Honda CR-V are currently built. Honda Canada has invested over $6.5 billion in Canada, and each year sources over $3 billion in goods and services from Canadian suppliers. Since its inception, Honda Canada has sold over five million Honda and Acura passenger cars and light trucks in Canada through a dealer network of more than 280 dealerships across the country. For more information, please visit www.hondacanada.ca.