LINCOLN, Ala. - The associates of Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) produced a total of 292,689 Odyssey minivans, Pilot sport utility vehicles and V-6 engines during calendar year 2005 as the Lincoln facility completed its ramp up to full production capacity.


In addition to achieving full production capacity in October, the four-year-old Honda facility also built its 500,000th vehicle on March 1, 2005, an achievement coming just 39 months after the start of mass production.


HMA is the exclusive global production source of the Odyssey minivan and shares production of the Pilot SUV with Honda of Canada Mfg. in Alliston, Ontario. HMA served as the project leader for the freshening of the 2006-model Pilot, which included the addition of a two-wheel drive option and the addition of Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) for improved fuel efficiency.


“The achievements of our associates during the past year serve as further proof of the growing capabilities of our Honda team and our production facility,” said Rick Schostek, senior vice president of business operations. “The production of high-quality vehicles and engines that exceed our customers' expectations continues to be our ultimate goal.”


HMA also hired about 300 new associates during 2005, bringing total employment to 4,500 associates at the end of the year.


In 2006, HMA will complete construction of a $70 million expansion of its machining facility to add machining of engine crankshafts and connecting rods. The expansion will add 100 additional associates and is expected to begin parts production in the summer and fall of 2006.