Honda is dedicating its Alabama plant to production of Ridgeline, Pilot, and Odyssey models in response to customer demand for crossovers and light trucks. The company has struggled to keep pace with the U.S.’ increasing appetite for larger vehicles, and this move will help it churn out more of the cars its customers want.
The shift happens early next year, according to Automotive News, and will see the slower-selling Acura MDX move to Honda’s plant in East Liberty, Ohio. Honda has reportedly been planning the production shuffling for several months.
Honda is the latest automaker to respond to the auto market’s changing tastes. GM recently laid off plant workers due to slow sales of certain passenger cars and Fiat Chrysler is killing the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart to focus on building more Jeep and Ram vehicles. Honda’s inability to deliver enough crossovers and trucks contributed to the lowering of its annual sales forecast. Through October, about 59 percent of Honda vehicles sold have been light trucks, compared to 45 percent last year.
Honda is also expected to add the CR-V to the line at its Indiana plant, and ramp up production of the HR-V in Mexico. Currently, the balance of production between cars and light trucks is evenly weighted, but will soon tip in the latter’s favor.
Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)
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