Ohio Will Have a Hand in Honda’s Expansion

Honda announced a $27-million expansion of its research and development operations in Ohio.

Construction of the 81,000-square-foot plant next to the Transportation Research Center and near the company’s Marysville operations is to begin in August and be completed next year, Honda said.

The state of Ohio will make grants available to Honda to train new employees at the center, Gov. Richard Celeste said. He did not specific any amounts.

Masaru Otabe, president of Honda R&D; North America, said the expansion “continues Honda’s strategy to become a self-reliant motor vehicle company in the United States.”

The company said the new facilities will increase Honda’s ability to assist U.S. suppliers in developing parts of Honda products made in the United States and Canada.