http://www.dailyhome.com/news/2003/dh-localnews-1212-ghadley-3l11v0435.htm Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Honda Manufacturing of Alabama President Masaaki Kato unveil the Pilot SUV, which will be produced at the Honda facility in Lincoln. LINCOLN - Honda Manufacturing has been leading the way for the automotive industry in north central Alabama for the past four years. And now, the car maker has a Pilot to guide it. With drapes falling from three of the sport utility vehicles behind them, Honda officials announced Thursday the Lincoln facility will begin production of the Pilot early next year. "In less than four years, HMA has forged a strong bond with Alabama, and we are excited that this bond will now grow even stronger as we expand our product lineup and the Honda Pilot joins the Odyssey minivan in Sweet Home Alabama," said Charles Ernst, vice president and plant manager for HMA, after the unveiling. Construction of the second production line at the Lincoln plant is on schedule and, according to Ernst, "We are just a few months away from starting mass production in the new manufacturing facility. "Starting in April, we will share production of the Pilot with Honda of Canada Manufacturing as a further demonstration of Honda's efforts to meet customer demand for our products," he said. Ted Pratt, with Honda Corporate Affairs, said the new line will expand the number of workers - referred to within the company as associates - to approximately 4,300. HMA employs 2,300 on production line one and has already hired 700 of the 2,000 workers needed for the expansion, Pratt said. Masaaki Kato, president and CEO of HMA, credited the associates with much of the company's success. "From the beginning, HMA associates have embodied Honda's challenging spirit in the many milestones we have already achieved at HMA. "Our successful team of Alabama associates has demonstrated an eagerness to learn and a commitment to supply high quality products for our Honda customers," Kato said. The plant will produce approximately 300,000 vehicles annually, but Pratt said they don't know how many of each model will make up those numbers - that will depend on vehicle sales. "Honda is serious about meeting the needs of our customers. As with our existing line one facility, now both of HMA's operations will incorporate Honda's new manufacturing system, which allows for production flexibility based on customer demand," Ernst said. Pratt explained the new system will allow each line to produce different vehicle models at the same time. He added that the Pilot is an ideal addition to the Honda facility in Lincoln because it shares structural and other components, including the engine, with the Odyssey. And the plant will continue to do almost all of the production in-house. "Everything is going to be Alabama built," he said. Ernst said line two is still under construction, but the company is beginning to shift staff to a production setting. "You can see the plant is still in a state of construction, but we are starting to change it to a manufacturing setting from a construction setting," he said. Ernst said HMA is scheduled to begin trial runs on line two some time in January.
