Honda North Carolina Manufacturing Starts Production of ATVs

Honda North Carolina Manufacturing (NCM) employees in Swepsonville welcomed a new model to the production roster today. A FourTrax Rancher all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rolled off the assembly line for the first time, ushering in a new age of power sports in North Carolina. NCM will become the only North American production source for Honda ATVs, joining Honda South Carolina Manufacturing (SCM) in Timmonsville, S.C., the only plant in the world that builds Honda side-by-side. Honda FourTrax and TRX series ATVs will be manufactured by NCM.

Youth-sized model production began at NCM in late April, with the TRX90, signalling the beginning of Honda ATV production in North Carolina. NCM’s current activity is mostly on assembly until weld and paint equipment for ATV production is moved from SCM in the coming months. NCM’s weld and paint departments will begin construction this autumn. “We’re excited to bring ATV production to Honda North Carolina Manufacturing, and this team has done an incredible job working as one team with Honda associates in South Carolina to make it happen,” said David Werden, NCM’s assistant vice president and production division lead. “In manufacturing, flexibility has always been critical to our ability to meet the needs of Honda customers, and it’s critical that we continue to evolve our business to prepare for the future.”

NCM colleagues have created over 700 million Honda power equipment items since beginning lawn mower production in 1984, consistently developing their production capabilities and products to satisfy client needs. NCM has produced a wide range of Honda products for nearly 40 years, including snow blowers, string trimmers, mini-tillers, water pumps, pressure washers, generators, and general-purpose engines. Due to market forces such as stricter environmental regulations and shifting customer preferences, NCM will cease production of lawnmowers by the end of September, allowing SCM to expand Honda’s side-by-side production to meet increasing customer demand for Honda’s popular Pioneer and Talon sports models.

The relocation of ATV production to NCM coincides with changes in Honda’s business strategy, which will result in increased manufacturing efficiencies and productivity. “The associates at Honda North Carolina Manufacturing have been a critical part of our ability to maintain a versatile product lineup for nearly four decades, and that will continue in the future,” Hank Real, vice president, of Powersports & Products, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., stated. “Transitioning ATV production to NCM will allow us to leverage our facility’s manufacturing experience and talented Honda associates to ensure we continue to supply the high quality our customers expect from a Honda ATV.” NCM employs over 600 colleagues at the 700,000-square-foot plant, representing a $380 million investment in North Carolina.