Honda to stop production in US

I found this in the local news today as I live in Ohio.

MARYSVILLE, Ohio -- Honda Motor Co. said it plans to stop producing motorcycles in the United States next year and will transfer production to Japan.

Honda currently makes motorcycles at its plant in Marysville, Ohio, employing 450 workers.

Honda said Wednesday there will be no layoffs when production ends in spring 2009. It says the workers will remain with the company, helping produce cars, trucks, engines and parts and filling other jobs.

The motorcycle plant opened in 1979 as Honda's first U.S. plant. Last year, it produced about 44,000 Gold Wing touring and VTX cruiser bikes.


Are Honda motorcycles built anywhere else in the staes?

 

No. The only other related plant is Honda's ATV plant in South Carolina.

http://corporate.honda.com/america/facilities.aspx

 

Strange, with dropping of the US dollar against all other major currencies would think they'd ramp up model production and start exporting internationally ????

 

This is simple economics:

1.) The U.S. Economy is at or near recession.
2.) Gas is at or near record price levels. (Everything that uses gas costs more)
3.) People have far less income for recreational toys (Goldwing or VTX), so they buy less.
4.) Making fewer in Japan for less $$$ (because demand has receded) makes more financial sense to HMC.

 

Is that "manufacture" or "assemble"?