It's a day of mixed news at Honda of Canada Manufacturing (HCM) as employees were informed this morning that the automaker's redesigned 2012 CR-V will be built in Alliston, while the Acura MDX production is transferring to Alabama in 2013.Auto industry analysts have been speculating for months about Honda's plans for its crossover vehicle - a mix of sports utility and hatchback/station wagon. It's anticipated to make its debut later this year at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and scheduled to start appearing in dealer showrooms this fall.
Honda introduced North American CR-V production at its East Liberty, Ohio, and Mexican plant, for the 2007 model year.
"The CRV has continued to gain in market share, and is the second-highest-selling Honda vehicle in terms of Honda Canada's sales, " noted Lisa Timpf, HCM's Manager of Associates, in an email to Free Press Online. "By producing the CRV and Civic at HCM, we will be building in Canada more than 50 per cent (by volume) of the products Honda Canada sells."
However, that news was tempered by the continuing production slow downs due to the parts situation as a result of the Japan earthquake and tsunami.
"We anticipate the adjustments will need to continue through the summer months, and have identified the detailed schedule for May and June 2011," wrote Ms. Timpf. "This includes (now that we know it's a longer term picture) running non-production days on Mondays and Fridays through May at all HCM plants. For the majority of these days, Associates continue to have the option to work, or to take time off. For one of these days, Associates will be asked to take time off only, but we are providing some flexibility for coverage by pulling ahead a bonus normally paid out in June, and allowing them to convert it into floater days if they wish, to use to cover non production time. So we are trying to minimize the impact on Associates by giving them options.
During the month of June (starting June 6), Plant 1 and Engine Plant will go to one shift, to allow us to use some of the manpower freed up to cover vacation and work on key business activities.
All Associates will still continue to work, so condensing to one shift is simply an issue of re-allocating manpower. Plant 2 will have a similar schedule to May (ie Mondays and Fridays designated as non production days), and will continue to operate on two shifts. Plant 1 and Engine Plant will work 8 hour days on one shift throughout June, with the exception of two Fridays where all HCM Associates will be asked to exercise one of their time off options (vacation, floater, unpaid, etc. at their choice)."
HCM employs more than 4,200 people at its two assembly plants in Alliston.
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