RUSSELLS POINT, Ohio, U.S.A., July 23, 2008–Honda’s large transmission
plant in west-central Ohio reached a major milestone when associates
built their 10 millionth automatic transmission. Honda Transmission
Mfg. of America supplies these transmissions to Honda’s auto engine
plant in Anna, Ohio, where they are mated up with the engines for
delivery to Honda auto plants in Marysville and East Liberty, Ohio, and
in Canada and Mexico.



Located in Logan County near Russells Point, Honda Transmission has
manufactured* transmissions for nearly 12 years. The 10 millionth
transmission was produced for a Honda Accord and will remain on display
in the plant. Nearly every department was involved in its production
through its final assembly and quality inspection, including casting of
the aluminum case, and forging and machining of its high-precision
gears.

More than 1,000 associates at Honda Transmission are being recognized
at an internal ceremony for their contributions to the production
milestone. “Our team has worked very hard to achieve this milestone,”
Honda Transmission President Nobuyuki Sanui said. “Working together as
one team to exceed our customer expectations is the driving force
behind our successes.”

Since starting transmission production in 1996, Honda Transmission has
steadily expanded operations to keep pace with Honda’s growth into new
passenger car and light truck models. In addition to the Accord, the
plant produces automatic transmissions for the Honda Ridgeline, Element
and CR-V, and the Acura TL, MDX and RDX.

The plant’s growth would not have been possible without the
contributions of each associate, said Jeff Tomko, the company’s vice
president. “What we are celebrating goes well beyond a production
milestone,” Tomko said. “Our associates have worked as a strong team
to satisfy 10 million customers, and they are continuing to build on
that success as we increase our capabilities with the additional
production of gears and differentials.”

The result of a $100 million expansion project, Honda Transmission
associates started producing high-precision transmission gears in 2006,
followed a year later by four-wheel-drive rear differentials for the
Acura RDX and MDX. That 263,000-square-foot expansion was part of a
major North American drive-train initiative that Honda announced in
late 2004 that also included investment of $100 million for Honda
Precision Parts of Georgia, a new plant that now supplies automatic
transmissions for the light trucks produced at Honda Manufacturing of
Alabama. At the same time, Honda invested $70 million to expand engine
machining at the Alabama plant.

More recently, Honda invested $75 million at the Anna Engine Plant in
Ohio to increase the production of steel engine parts previously
imported from Japan. That project included a 135,000-square-foot
expansion to manufacture camshafts, crankshafts, cylinder sleeves and
connecting rods. Honda’s largest auto engine plant in the world, the
Anna plant celebrated production of its 15 millionth engine last year.

Honda Transmission’s predecessor company, Bellemar Parts Industries,
started producing auto parts for Honda of America Mfg. in 1982 as the
Marysville Auto Plant was making history as the first Japanese auto
plant in America. The company was formally incorporated as Honda
Transmission Mfg. in 1997. Investment in the 651,000-square-foot
facility exceeds $325 million.

Among five Honda plants in Ohio, Honda Transmission has the capacity
annually to produce 750,000 automatic transmissions, 288,000 gear sets
and 110,000 rear differentials. Honda’s two auto plants in Marysville
and East Liberty, Ohio, produced a record 700,000 cars and light trucks
in the state last year, making it the largest auto manufacturer in Ohio.