Honda To End Motorcycle Production in the U.S.A.?

More:  Motorcycle News

March 3, 2008 - "Foundry Management and Technology" magazine reports that Honda will cease manufacturing of motorcycles in the U.S.A. in 2009, according to a Honda corporate strategy.

Production will apparently be increased at the Honda plant in Kumamoto, Japan.

The magazine reports that production will end next spring at the Honda motorcycle plant in Marysville, Ohio and the 450 workers will be transferred to positions at Honda's four other operations in central Ohio.

"The Marysville motorcycle plant is Honda's oldest U.S. manufacturing operation, having started up in 1979", according to the magazine.  Honda of America produced 44,000 Gold Wing 1800 and VTX 1800 and VTX 1300 V-Twin Cruiser motorcycles at the plant in 2007.

"Honda officials state that the end of motorcycle production will be matched by a greater emphasis on auto manufacturing in North America.  It is building a $550-million assembly plant near Greensburg, Indiana and a $140-million engine plant in Alliston, Ontario, Canada, both of which are due to start up this year.

Meanwhile, Honda announced the launch of the new DN-01 "Large Sports Cruiser" with "Innovative Automatic Human-Friendly Transmission".  See our Honda DN-01 page for more information and the official Honda announcement.

Meanwhile, here's a sort-of-related (and excerpted) news story that appeared in the "Manufacturing Technology & News" of February 28, 2008: 

U.S. Goods Imports Exceed U.S. Industrial Production
"The United States (now) imports more goods than it manufactures.  Imports of goods last year grew by $100 billion to $1,964 billion, or 14 percent of total U.S. GDP of $14,080 billion.  Manufacturing as a percentage of U.S. GDP was 12 percent, or $1,680 billion.

The U.S. imported $284 billion more in goods than it manufactured.

The trade deficit hit a new record with China, growing by $24 billion to $256 billion.  In the textiles category, the trade deficit with China increased by 19 percent over 2006 to $32 billion.  Since 2002, when the textile trade deficit with China stood at $8.5 billion, the textile trade deficit with China has increased by 274 percent.

Since 2002, the United States has lost 303,000 textile jobs, from 845,000 to 541,000 in 2007.  The deficit in oil was $293 billion, up from $271 billion in 2006."

Note:  For informational use only.  All material and photographs are Copyright © webWorld International, LLC - 2000-2009.  All rights reserved.  See the webBikeWorld® Site Info page.  NOTE:  Product specifications, features and details may change or differ from our descriptions.  Always check before purchasing.  Read the Terms and Conditions!