Construction crews have made progress on three separate Honda production plants that will help transition Ohio to lead the company’s North America electrical vehicle (EV) production.
In addition to the $3.5 billion megaproject to construct a joint venture EV battery plant with LG Energy Solutions in Jeffersonville, work has begun at existing Honda facilities in Marysville, Anna and East Liberty.
Dorsey Hager, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer, announced that the EV battery plant in Fayette County is on schedule.
Exterior construction is complete on the 2 million-square-foot plant in Jeffersonville.
Sheet Metal Workers Local 24 members have played a critical role in keeping construction on track at the three Ohio Honda plants.
The EV battery plant is being constructed under a Project Labor Agreement. Hager said the conversion work at the three plants will not be performed under an agreement, but the majority of the work will be done by union construction workers.
The work done by affiliated members of the Central Ohio building trades to upgrade the Marysville, Anna Engine and East Liberty plant is essential for developing Honda’s North American EV hub in Ohio.
Honda is investing roughly $700 million to retool the three plants. Construction work at all three locations is currently on schedule.
Between the three plants, roughly 400 construction jobs will be created for Local 24 members.
“I am excited for our membership,” Sheet Metal Workers Local 24 Business Manager Rodney French said. “We have many years of full employment and we are bringing travelers to town that don’t have the job sites that we have.”
Steady work for SMW 24
The work at all three Honda plants includes assembly line upgrades and the installation of high-pressure die-cast machinery. The Marysville plant will merge its two production lines into one, allowing employees to produce both EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles on the same line.
Construction crews have removed most of Maryville’s second line, creating extra space to allow Honda employees on the line to move more easily. This will enhance efficiency in delivering parts and staging vehicles for assembly.
Once production begins, the Marysville plant will supply the units needed to produce EVs in the facility and at East Liberty.
At East Liberty, construction is underway to create a single production line capable of producing EVs, which are much heavier than current gasoline-powered vehicles. Crews are strengthening the overhead conveyor system, which will carry the vehicles through the plant.
After the retooling is finished, Honda employees will manufacture the housing for EV batteries, which will also serve as the main frame structure for the floors of all Honda and Acura EVs.
Honda plans to start producing battery prototypes by Oct. 1. Full production is planned for next summer.