Honda in Alliston is celebrating its 40th birthday. The company is the region’s biggest employer with 4,200 associates. The first vehicle to roll off the assembly line was a Honda Accord in 1986. Since then, more than 11.5 million vehicles have been made locally during the four decades and counting for the massive automaker in Simcoe County. It’s not only success for the company, but also for the people who work there. “I was able to take the necessary training to be able to launch my own personal career and be successful and be proud of where I work,” says Mary Maika, a Honda associate for the last 28 years. Tuesday Honda marked its anniversary by planting a tree on its property. Inside the plant, workers on the assembly line pushed vehicles through their final inspection. Honda’s history is well documented. It was the first Japanese automaker in the country. The company has invested $6.5 billion since arriving and is the country’s second largest auto manufacturer by production volume. Honda supports about 30,000 spin-off jobs in the auto sector. “Here in Canada our workers care. We know that what we build is for our neighbours, is for our relatives, it’s for our friends. It’s the Honda Civic, it’s the CRV - two popular models and we know that they go home with us,” says Honda Canada Manufacturing VP Bobbi Curran. The ups and downs of the auto sector have been challenging for all auto makers in Canada. Honda says its success relies on its people and its product. “All the changes in the automotive industry over the years, this is an incredible factory in Alliston,” says Honda Canada President and CEO Dave Jamieson. “We have a pretty good population base to draw from and a very talented population base.” About 70 per cent of Honda’s vehicles sold in Canada are made in Alliston. The massive Alliston plant sits on almost 900 acres and encompasses about four million square feet. With more than 4,200 employees, the plants in Alliston are expected to hit the 12 millionth vehicle to roll off the assembly line in about a year from now. Honda officials say Alliston has been the perfect location for its first 40 years and can’t wait to see what comes in the next 40.
