TALLAPOOSA, Georgia (May 12, 2021) – Honda today is celebrating 15 years of U.S. automobile transmission production at the company’s transmission plant in Tallapoosa, Georgia.
Honda started transmission production in Georgia in 2006 with 179 associates. With a total investment of more than $465 million, the operation has expanded to include more than 500 associates building 375,000 transmissions annually for the Honda Odyssey and Accord and Acura MDX, RDX and TLX.
The transmission plant in Georgia, formerly called Honda Precision Parts of Georgia (HPPG), began production with 5-speed automatic transmissions and added 6-speed automatic transmissions in 2012. In 2017, the plant added a second assembly line, taking on a new responsibility as the first Honda plant in the world to produce Honda’s advanced 10-speed automatic transmission (10AT). Earlier this year, the plant began replacing its original production line to increase production of the 10AT.
“Our Honda plants in Georgia and Ohio represent a transmission powerhouse in America, creating advanced technology components that help power Honda and Acura products for our customers,” said Gerald Bruch, vice president, Honda Development and Manufacturing of America, LLC (HDMA). “We look forward to continued innovation that serves our customers and the communities where our associates live and work.”
In July, HondaÂ’s first dedicated U.S. transmission plant, located in Russells Point, Ohio, will mark its 25th anniversary. Honda has manufactured more than 21 million transmissions in America since starting production of automatic transmissions in Ohio in 1989. With a total investment of more than $1 billion, the 1.1-million square-foot Ohio transmission plant produces more than 850,000 transmissions per year as well as gear sets and transfer cases and differentials for four-wheel drive vehicles.
Both Georgia and Ohio plants play a critical role in HondaÂ’s future, not only building advanced transmissions and components that help power Honda and Acura products made in America but taking on new responsibilities as Honda takes its first steps in electrifying its vehicle lineup. This includes production of HondaÂ’s innovative two-motor hybrid system used in the Accord Hybrid, CR-V Hybrid, and Insight.
Honda began transmission production in the U.S. at Honda’s Anna Engine Plant in Ohio, in 1989. In 1996 the transmission manufacturing lines were relocated from the Anna Engine plant to a wholly owned Honda supplier (Bellemar Parts Industries) in Russells Point, Ohio. In 1997, Bellemar was incorporated as Honda Transmission of America.
Both Honda transmission plant locations were combined this spring under one new company, named Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC (HDMA), which includes all Honda automobile manufacturing facilities in the U.S. related to frame, engine, transmission, and related engineering and purchasing operations.