Honda began assembling vehicles in Marysville, Ohio, in 1982.
"The production of 20 million cars and light trucks in North America was achieved through the ultimate in teamwork by our suppliers, business partners and dealers working together with Honda associates to create joy for our customers," Tsuneo Tanai, CEO of Honda of America Manufacturing Inc., said in a letter to employees.
Tanai also heads Honda's production operations in North America.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of American Honda Motor Co. Inc., Honda's first overseas subsidiary. Honda has four U.S. assembly plants: Marysville and East Liberty, Ohio; Lincoln, Ala.; and Greensburg, Ind. It also has two lines in one plant in Alliston, Ontario, and a plant in El Salto Jalisco, Mexico.
More than 77 percent of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the United States in 2008 were produced in North America.
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Twelve models are produced exclusively in North America -- the Honda Accord coupe, Civic coupe and Si, and Civic GX natural-gas cars; Odyssey minivan; Pilot and Element crossovers; Ridgeline pickup; and Acura TL car, MDX and RDX crossovers and the CSX, a car made and sold only in Canada.
Besides the 20 million vehicles, Honda's cumulative North American production of automobile engines tops 18.4 million units, mostly in Ohio and Alabama.
Its production of automatic transmissions has exceeded 13 million units at plants in Ohio and Georgia.
