Which US Hondas are made in Japan?
While Honda is a Japanese automaker, some of its vehicles sold in the United States are actually manufactured in Japan. The specific Honda models made in Japan for the US market include the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, and Honda Pilot.
Honda Vehicles Manufactured in Japan for the US Market
Honda has several manufacturing facilities around the world, including in the United States, Canada, and Japan. However, some of the most popular Honda models sold in the US are produced in Japan and then exported to North America. The key Honda models made in Japan for the US market are:
- Honda Civic - The Civic sedan and coupe variants are produced in Japan and shipped to the US.
- Honda Accord - The Accord midsize sedan is manufactured in Honda's Sayama, Japan plant before being exported to the US.
- Honda Pilot - The Pilot SUV is built in Honda's Saitama, Japan factory and then sent to the US.
These Japanese-made Honda models are then sold alongside Honda vehicles produced at the automaker's US manufacturing plants in Ohio, Indiana, and Alabama.
Reasons for Japanese Production
There are a few key reasons why Honda chooses to manufacture certain models in Japan for the US market:
- Established Production Facilities - Honda has long-running, high-volume manufacturing operations in Japan that can efficiently produce these popular models.
- Specialized Expertise - The Japanese factories have developed specialized expertise and processes for building these specific Honda models over decades of production.
- Capacity Constraints - Honda's US plants may not have enough capacity to produce all the Civics, Accords, and Pilots needed to meet US demand, so Japanese production helps fill the gap.
So while Honda is a global automaker, the company still relies on its Japanese manufacturing base to supply certain key models to the important US market.
