Input Stories

Honda Motor is launching its next generation of vehicle manufacturing in Marysville, Ohio (CNBC). 
 
What’s going on: “Honda is in the midst of completing more than $1 billion in new investments—upped Wednesday from an initially announced $700 million—in the state this year. Upgrades most notably include installing six ‘giga presses’ … and a new ‘cell’ manufacturing system for its upcoming electric vehicle battery cases.” 

• The campus, which also comprises a $3.5 billion battery manufacturing plant in nearby Anna, Ohio, “will be the flagship for Honda’s global manufacturing operations.” It will be able to produce traditional vehicles as well as hybrids and EVs on the same assembly line.  

Why it’s important: “Once completed, Honda will be able to produce roughly 220,000 vehicles annually at its Marysville plant, located in central Ohio outside of Columbus.”  
 
How it works: To make the battery packs and other EV components, Honda is installing six 6,000-ton, high-pressure die-cast machines to “gigacast” materials. (Current Honda presses in Ohio go up to 3,500 tons.)  

• “Done correctly, gigacasting can theoretically slash per-unit manufacturing costs by eliminating the welding of dozens of body parts by casting one single module.” 
• After being cast, the battery packs will be shipped from Anna to Marysville and other manufacturing facilities “to have battery cells from Honda’s joint venture operations with LG Energy Solution installed before being used in the final assembly of EVs.”
• Honda is also installing 60 flexible manufacturing “cells” in Marysville to combine battery cells and packs. 

A “second founding”: “This is considered the second founding for Honda,” Bob Schwyn, senior vice president and center lead at Honda Development and Manufacturing of America, told CNBC. “We’re using the opportunity to reimagine our approach to manufacturing.” 

An NAM, MI partner: Honda is the largest financial backer of the NAM and MI’s Creators Wanted campaign—which seeks to inspire young people to pursue manufacturing careers. Catch up on the campaign’s latest activities here.