Honda Motor Co. is pouring $3.38 billion into Central Ohio to build a massive new auto assembly facility and expand its existing powertrain plants, creating 2,390 new jobs in the process, governor.ohio.gov reported.
The manufacturing expansion marks Honda’s first greenfield auto assembly plant of this scale in Ohio in more than 35 years, anchoring the region deeper into the future of automotive electrification.
Governor Mike DeWine gathered with leaders from Honda, JobsOhio, One Columbus, and Union County on November 9, 2026, to unveil the multi-billion-dollar initiative. The new facility will rise directly between Honda’s existing Marysville and East Liberty auto plants.
“Honda’s leadership could have chosen to build this plant anywhere in the world, but they chose Ohio because there are so many advantages to being here,” Governor DeWine stated, according to governor.ohio.gov. “Today’s announcement isn’t just an investment in a new facility — it’s an investment in Ohio’s people and Ohio’s future.”
Construction timelines hinge on final government approvals, with vehicle production slated to kick off in 2029. Once operational, the plant will boast a planned capacity of 240,000 vehicles annually. Engineers designed the site with flexible production architecture capable of rolling out multiple vehicle types and powertrains, encompassing gasoline, hybrid, and battery-electric models.
Beyond the primary assembly plant, the capital expenditure reaches deep into Honda’s footprint across the state. The automaker is retooling its Honda Transmission Plant-Ohio in Russells Point to manufacture two next-generation hybrid systems. That specific overhaul will drive Ohio’s hybrid production capacity up by 250 percent over the coming years, positioning the Russells Point facility as the lead plant for hybrid systems destined for larger Honda models.
Concurrently, Honda is retooling a production line at the Anna Engine Plant to construct a next-generation four-cylinder engine while expanding the site’s parts consolidation center. finance.yahoo.com noted that the total commitment reaches $3.38 billion and 2,390 new jobs.
“This investment reflects our commitment to building products close to our customers, and our confidence in the people, partners and communities of Ohio,” said Bob Nelson, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., as reported by governor.ohio.gov.
The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved tax credits for the development on the morning of the announcement, while JobsOhio anticipates finalizing separate assistance agreements.
“With the nation’s second-largest auto manufacturing workforce and a robust supplier network at the heart of the North American auto market, Ohio is the ideal destination for Honda’s first greenfield auto assembly facility of this scale in Ohio in more than 35 years,” JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef said, according to governor.ohio.gov.
Honda’s history in the state stretches back to 1977, when the company announced its initial Ohio footprint before launching motorcycle production in Marysville in 1979 with just 64 associates. By 1982, the Marysville Auto Plant rolled out the first Japanese-brand car built in the United States. Today, the automaker employs more than 15,000 associates across Ohio operations, backed by an investment exceeding $15 billion.
The new assembly plant will also tap into the regional supply ecosystem, sitting near vehicle development operations like the Transportation Research Center and the L-H Battery Company joint venture with LG Energy Solution in Fayette County, which supplies battery cells for hybrid and electric platforms.
