Honda leaves U S

Harley still outsells them in motorcycles so does not surprise me. I wonder if the falling dollar had anything to do with it.

I don't doubt that Honda sells more bikes world wide but I was referring to the USA and should have said that. Harley has sold more bikes in the USA than Honda. There were reports out with those sales statistics but I don't have them saved. Just remember reading it.

honda didnt like the unions..........dont much blame them.......so go home and get cheaper labor to build the product.....

I didn't know that any of the Japanese auto makers were a part of any unions here in the USA. I really don't think the unions have anything to do with their decisions to move but rather it was probably an economic decision to consolidate their motorcycle production to one location. I know that their was always a fierce pride in the workers at Marysville Ohio operations. With the economic turn down I wonder which Japanese company is next to move out.

Many years ago I had just graduated from electronics school and got hired by Epson who at the time was building computers and printers here in the USA. I worked as a Robotics Tech for 3 years with them. One day they came in and said the plant was closed and were moving to Taiwan. So we were all without a job and I swore that I would never again work for a Japanese Company.

DAYTON, Ohio — Honda Motor (HMC) plans to stop making motorcycles in the USA in spring 2009 and transfer the work to Japan.
A Marysville, Ohio, plant, built in 1979, turned out 44,000 large Gold Wing touring and VTX cruiser motorcycles last year and employs 450 workers. Honda said there will be no layoffs and that the workers will fill jobs at its other operations in Ohio. Honda employs about 13,000 at five plants in Ohio. Besides motorcycles, they make the Accord, Civic, Element, CR-V and Acura TL and RDX.

"There were a lot of people who felt disappointment," said plant manager Jan Gansheimer, noting many employees are motorcycle enthusiasts.

Gansheimer said production of 120 motorcycles a day will continue for now. A decision on phasing out production or ending it all at once has not been made.

Honda said motorcycle production at Marysville and at the Hamamatsu plant in Japan will be consolidated at an expanded plant in Kumamoto, Japan.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: Japan | Ohio | Accord | Civic | Marysville | Acura TL | Element | Motorcycle Industry Council | Kumamoto | Mike Mount | Honda of America
"This move allows us to improve the competitiveness and appeal of our products by applying the latest technologies and production systems at one efficient location," said Akio Hamada, president and chief executive of Honda of America.

The Japanese plant will have a capacity of 600,000 motorcycles a year. Capacity at Marysville is 75,000.

No decision has been made about what to do with the Marysville plant.

The Motorcycle Industry Council estimates that 1.11 million motorcycles were sold in the USA in 2007, down from 1.19 million in 2006. Council spokesman Mike Mount noted, however, that motorcycle sales steadily increased for 14 years leading up to 2006, which was the best year for sales in 30 years.

Honda spokesman Ed Miller said the company believes sales will rebound as the economy strengthens.

Honda says it holds about 25% of U.S. sales of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and scooters.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.