Honda Manufacturing of Alabama

Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) is in Lincoln, Talladega County, east of the Coosa River and north of Interstate 20 [1]. The plant covers 3.7 million square feet on 1,350 acres. Honda announced it in 1999 with a projected $400 million investment, 1,500 workers and 120,000 vehicles and engines a year.

Timeline

Groundbreaking took place on April 25, 2000, and the first Odyssey minivan rolled off the line on November 14, 2001. In 2002 Honda announced another $425 million investment, raising capacity to 420,000 vehicles and engines a year and adding 2,000 workers. Pilot SUV production began in 2004, the millionth vehicle was built in 2006, Ridgeline production moved from Canada in 2009, Acura MDX production ran from 2013 to May 2017, and Passport production began in 2018 [1].

Today

The plant builds the Odyssey, Pilot, Passport and Ridgeline plus V6 engines for other Honda vehicles. Honda’s total investment in Alabama exceeds $3 billion. The state and Talladega County provided more than $158 million in incentives, including $55.6 million in tax breaks. HMA was the first North American vehicle plant designed as a zero-landfill facility [1]. See Economy of Alabama.

Construction and opening

Honda announced the plant in 1999, broke ground on April 25, 2000, and the first Odyssey minivan came off the line on November 14, 2001. The site covers about 1,350 acres and 3.7 million square feet east of the Coosa River and north of Interstate 20.[2]

Products and capacity

The plant builds the Odyssey minivan, Pilot and Passport SUVs and Ridgeline truck, and an engine plant builds V6 engines. Each plant has an annual capacity of 340,000 units, and about 4,000 workers are directly employed.[2]

Investment and expansions

The original plan was a 0 million investment, 1,500 workers and 120,000 vehicles and engines a year. Within a year Honda added 5 million, raising output to 420,000 units and adding 2,000 jobs. Honda’s investment at the plant exceeds billion and in Alabama exceeds billion.[2]

Plant and model history

The Lincoln plant covers 1,350 acres with about 4.9 million square feet of floor space, built 1999-2001 with production beginning November 14, 2001. It was the first Honda factory to produce engines and assemble vehicles under the same roof, making the J-series and V6 engines. Models have included the Odyssey (2001 onward), Pilot (2003 or 2004 onward, depending on the source section), Ridgeline (listed from 2005 in the table, with the text saying production moved to Alabama in 2009), Accord V6 (2009-2010), Acura MDX (2013-2017) and Passport (2019 onward).[3]

Output

In 2019 the plant produced over 351,000 vehicles and V6 engines, with about 4,000 employees in a 2011 figure.[3]

FAQs

When did it open? The first Odyssey was built November 14, 2001.

How many workers? About 4,000.

Sources

1. Encyclopedia of Alabama: Honda Manufacturing of Alabama
2. Encyclopedia of Alabama: Honda Manufacturing of Alabama
3. Wikipedia: Honda Manufacturing of Alabama

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 10, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue