Nikkei reported in September that Honda was in final talks to build a plant in Ohio for large hybrid models, investing roughly ¥300 to ¥400 billion. On October 7, Honda filed an application with the Ohio EPA for a plant code-named Project Sunrise: about 300 acres of land it already owns in Union County, near its East Liberty plant, building hybrid Honda and Acura vehicles with about 3,000 workers. Honda confirmed the filing but says it has not made a final decision to build a new US plant. The site The roughly 300 acres lie south of Rapp-Dean Road in Liberty and Perry townships, near Marysville. State records show Honda first looked at a site of about 1,030 acres. It sits near Honda's East Liberty car plant, and Honda has built cars in Ohio since its Marysville plant opened in 1982. Honda's caution Honda says it has usually grown US output first by using its existing plants and flexible lines, and only then by adding capacity. It said it will keep weighing how best to meet demand. A permit application does not commit it to build.
