Honda plans $3B hybrid plant in Ohio with 2,000 jobs

The news

Honda will build a $3 billion plant in central Ohio to make hybrid vehicles, adding more than 2,000 jobs and annual capacity for about 240,000 vehicles. The site will sit between Honda’s East Liberty and Marysville auto plants.

The investment will lift Honda’s US production capacity to about 1.3 million vehicles a year, and its North American capacity to 1.9 million from 1.6 million.
Bob Nelson, executive vice president of American Honda, called it “one of the most significant commitments in our history to position Honda for the next 50 years.”

Why it matters: Honda is shifting its North American spending from EVs to hybrids, which now make up 16% of US light-vehicle sales.

The details

The Ohio plant is part of Honda’s shift away from its earlier EV expansion plans. The automaker cut its planned EV investments by $21 billion starting in May 2025 after canceling projects that contributed to its first annual loss as a listed company. It now plans to introduce 15 next-generation hybrid models by 2030, mainly for North America.

Hybrids accounted for 16% of US light-vehicle sales in the third quarter, while battery-electric vehicles fell to 6% from 10% a year earlier, according to EIA data.
L-H Battery Company, Honda’s Ohio battery venture with LG Energy Solution, will supply batteries for both hybrid and electric vehicles.

Honda is also retooling five existing plants in Ohio, Alabama, Georgia and Ontario to support hybrid production. The work includes changes to engine and hybrid-system manufacturing as well as vehicle assembly.

The new site will be Honda’s fourth auto plant in Ohio and its ninth auto-related plant in the US.
In Canada, Honda is investing C$166 million in its plants as part of an C$867 million commitment supporting a workforce of more than 4,000.
Nearly 99% of Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the US last year were built in North America, the company says.