Automotive sales figures continue to be dismal, but in spite of current bleak outlook, instances of investment have been seen, albeit limited to non “Big 3” automakers. In mid-November, Honda Manufacturing of Indiana LLC dedicated its new facility in Greensburg, IN with production of the 4-cylinder Honda Civic Sedan starting up in October. At the ceremony, which included Honda President & CEO Takeo Fukui, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, U.S. Representative Mike Pence, and Greensburg Mayor Gary Herbert, Honda also announced that it would shift production of its Civic GX compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle to Indiana.

The vertically integrated plant, which includes metal stamping, injection molding, subassembly, final assembly, and other processes, is the fifth Honda site in the U.S. designed as a zero waste-to-landfill facility. It will also be the first Honda site to feature an on-site parts consolidation center aimed at increasing efficiency while reducing vehicle emissions and costs related to transportation and parts handling.

The plant sits on 1700 acres and employs 2000 at full capacity. At present it’s running one shift, with plans for two starting in 2009. Honda began U.S. production in Marysville, OH in 1979, with stateside automobile production starting in 1982. The company now has 16 major manufacturing facilities in North America that  employ more than 35,000 associates and produce more than 2 million products annually.