ALL-NEW 2019 HONDA INSIGHT SEDAN LAUNCHES INTO PRODUCTION IN INDIANA

TDN NEWS: ALL-NEW 2019 HONDA INSIGHT SEDAN LAUNCHES INTO PRODUCTION IN INDIANA

• Honda invests $61.5 million in manufacturing plants in Indiana and Ohio
• All-new Insight built only in Greensburg, Ind. plant for North American market, bolstering Honda’s growing portfolio of electrified vehicles in America
• Three plants in Ohio to support production of Insight powertrain components

Honda today celebrated the start of mass production of the all-new 2019 Honda Insight in Indiana, announcing $61.5 million in new capital investment in Indiana and Ohio for production of the latest in Honda’s growing portfolio of electrified vehicles. The launch of the stylish and sophisticated Insight at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN) reflects Honda’s increasing investment in the production of electrified vehicles in America.

Honda previously announced its intention that two-thirds of its global auto sales will be electrified by around 2030. Under this Honda Electrification Initiative, the company plans to introduce electrified powertrains to virtually all of its core models in the years ahead.

“The new Honda Insight exemplifies our growing investment in the production of electrified vehicles in America and our associates in Indiana are proud to play a key role in this initiative,” said Isao Matsuzaki, president of Honda Manufacturing of Indiana. “As the lead plant for Insight production globally, we are committed to delivering the quality and reliability that our customers expect.”

HMIN will build all Insight models for the North American market and has invested $32.5 million to support production of the new Insight. Three Ohio plants contribute the Insight’s powertrain.  Honda Transmission Manufacturing of America (HTM), in Russells Point, Ohio, has invested $29 million for production of the Insight’s twin electric motor unit, which is the heart of the Insight’s innovative gas-electric hybrid powertrain. The Insight’s hybrid battery pack is assembled at the company’s Marysville, Ohio auto plant, where Honda also produces the just-launched 2019 Accord Hybrid.  The Insight’s 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine is produced at the company’s Anna, Ohio engine plant.¹

Among the changes made to the Indiana plant for Insight production is a new 19,200 square-foot building expansion to accommodate in-house subassembly of the vehicle’s front-end module. This modular approach to the construction of the vehicle’s front frame and associated components, such as the radiator and cooling fan, was first introduced on the 2016 Civic and is now employed for the Accord and CR-V as well.  The new Insight marks the first time the Indiana plant is subassembling the front-end module in-house. Other new processes for Insight include the installation of electrified vehicle systems such as high-voltage wiring, the battery unit and power control system.

HMIN will now produce the Insight, Civic and CR-V on the same production line.  This is not the first time that HMIN has demonstrated the flexibility to manufacture multiple vehicles and hybrid models. From April 2012 to November 2014, the plant was the exclusive manufacturing home for the Acura ILX hybrid, which was transferred to Marysville, Ohio in 2015. HMIN also previously produced the Civic Natural Gas, at the time, the only mass-produced natural gas-powered passenger car in America.

The 2019 Honda Insight, launching at Honda dealerships nationally early this summer, is a stylish and sophisticated hybrid sedan positioned between Civic and Accord in Honda’s U.S. lineup. The Insight offers comfortable seating for five with leading-edge technology, including standard Honda Sensing® safety and driver-assistive technology, Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ integration.  Powered by the third generation of Honda’s innovative and efficient two-motor hybrid system, Insight’s 151 net system horsepower combines with a lightweight structure to deliver the best power-to-weight ratio in its class along with helping it receive up to a projected 55-mpg rating² in the city.

The Insight is the fifth electrified Honda model launched in the past 18 months, following the introduction of the Clarity Series – Clarity Fuel Cell, Clarity Electric and Clarity Plug-In Hybrid – and the just-launched 2019 Accord Hybrid.