(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081117/CLM109 )

Joining the more than 1,000 Honda associates for the event were HondaMotor Co., Ltd. President & CEO Takeo Fukui, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels,U.S. Representative Mike Pence and Greensburg Mayor Gary Herbert.

Honda took the occasion of the Indiana plant opening to announce that itplans to transfer exclusive production of the world's only compressed naturalgas powered passenger vehicle, the Civic GX, to Honda Manufacturing of Indianain 2009.

"The entire world of Honda has great 'Civic Pride' in our team ofassociates in Indiana," Fukui said. "Each Honda associate here in Indianaplays a direct and important role in our ability to meet the needs of ourcustomers. Our challenge is to continue to deliver products of the highestquality, produced with the highest efficiency."

Currently, Honda Manufacturing of Indiana is operating on one shift withplans to add a second shift in 2009. The Honda Civic Sedan produced in Indianafeatures the 140-hp, 1.8-liter, 16-valve, SOHC i-VTEC(R) 4-cylinder gasolineengine produced by Honda associates at a Honda engine plant in Anna, Ohio.

Yuzo Uenohara, president of Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, was joined indriving the first Honda Civic off the HMIN assembly line by three Hondaassociates: Daphna Tubbs of Greensburg, Willard Jones of Indianapolis, and PamManis of Sunman.

"The Greensburg facility reflects Honda's growing reputation for flexibleand efficient auto manufacturing. It is Honda's fifth U.S. plant designed as azero waste-to-landfill facility and will be the first Honda facility tofeature an on-site parts consolidation center that is helping increaseefficiency while reducing vehicle emissions and costs related totransportation and parts handling."

Fukui also recognized the cooperation Honda received from state and localgovernment. "We did not accomplish this challenge alone. Over the past twoyears, the state of Indiana has become a great teammate along with ourpartners in Greensburg and Decatur County," he said.

Governor Daniels said, "Honda is the kind of company Hoosiers admire and acompany we welcome with open arms. We are thrilled by the thousands of jobsthat Honda brings to our state and we are excited for the future of southeastIndiana and the opportunities ahead."

Honda announced plans to build the Greensburg facility in June 2006, andbroke ground for the new production facility in March 2007. The new plant isa comprehensive production facility that includes metal stamping, plasticinjection molding, subassembly and final assembly and other processes thatwill employ 2,000 associates at full capacity. It sits on a 1,700 acre parcelfacing Interstate 74 in Greensburg.

Honda began operations in the U.S. in 1959 with the establishment ofAmerican Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda's first overseas subsidiary. Honda beganU.S. production in Ohio in 1979, and began U.S. automobile production in 1982at its Marysville, Ohio, auto plant. The company has invested more than $10.6billion in its North American operations, including 16 major manufacturingfacilities employing more than 35,000 associates and producing more than 2million products annually, including Honda and Acura automobiles as well asmotorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft, lawn mowers,general-purpose engines, and other power equipment products. Honda currentlypartners with more than 650 North American suppliers and purchased more than$18.8 billion in parts and materials from North American suppliers in 2007.Visit Honda's online multimedia newsroom at http://www.hondanews.com

About the Honda GX: -- Advanced Technology Partial-Zero-Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) -- Fueled by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for nearly zero emissions -- Convenient Phill(R) home refueling (optional) -- HOV lane access in many states -- 113-hp, 1.8-Liter, 16-Valve, SOHC i-VTEC(R) 4-cylinder engine (1) Using domestic and globally sourced parts. http://www.honda.comSOURCE Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC