First Honda truck to roll off line Jan. 31 in Alliston

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

Things will pick-up in the new year at Honda of Canada Mfg.
The local auto manufacturer is launching its new, light pick-up truck -- officially called the Ridgeline -- at a ceremony Jan. 31 in Alliston.
"HCM is the only Honda location worldwide to build this vehicle, which we expect will be warmly received by our customers," said Masaharu Hinaga, president of HCM.

While Honda is introducing the Ridgeline at its second plant in Alliston, it came at the expense of production of its minivan.

Gone will be the Odyssey, which was produced in Alliston. Production of the minivan will move to Honda's operations in Lincoln, Alabama.

The move won't result in any new jobs at the plant since the production output of the new vehicle will match those of the Odyssey's.

The Ridgeline -- a combination of a sports utility vehicle and pickup truck -- made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit back in January, 2004.

The production levels of vehicles turned out per day on the former Odyssey line -- 800 -- will remain unchanged. That means 800 SUTs will come off the line once production starts.

The new Sports Utility Truck (SUT) features a cabin with seating for five adults and a 1.5-metre-long cargo bed with reduced intrusion of the real wheel arches for maximum cargo capability.

The Ridgeline will become the sixth SUV-type product for Honda and Acura -- joining the Honda Odyssey, CR-V, Pilot, Element and Acura MDX.

Honda began its operations in Canada in March of 1969 with the establishment of Honda Canada Inc. In 1986, Honda automobile manufacturing started in Alliston. Today Honda directly employs over 5,000 people.

http://www.simcoe.com/sc/alliston/story/2458680p-2848582c.html
by Jason Ballantyne