Honda's Ohio Transmission Plant Hits 30 Years, 26 Million Units

Honda associates and officials gathered today to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Honda Transmission Plant-Ohio (TMP-O), marking the production of more than 26 million transmissions since the facility initiated operations in 1996. Located in Russells Point, the 1.1-million-square-foot manufacturing plant represents a total capital investment exceeding US$1 billion and currently employs a workforce of more than 1,200 associates.

The facility maintains an annual production capacity of more than 1 million transmissions and gear shifts, alongside 500,000 two-motor hybrid systems. It also manufactures transfer cases and differentials for Honda and Acura four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles. The current product lineup consists of pulley-driven continuously variable transmissions (CVT) and Honda’s award-winning two-motor hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) system, which supplies the drivetrain architecture for the Honda Civic, Accord, and CR-V models, and serves as standard equipment for the Prelude.

"For thirty years Honda associates at Russells Point have produced an incredible 26 million transmissions that have helped to power the future," said Mike DeWine, Governor, Ohio, in an official statement celebrating the milestone.

Honda originally launched its domestic transmission production framework in 1989 at its Anna Engine Plant (AEP) in Ohio. In 1996, the company relocated its transmission manufacturing operations to the Russells Point facility, which was then operated by Bellemar Parts Industries, a wholly owned Honda supplier. The site was formally incorporated as Honda Transmission Manufacturing of America the following year. The factory's flexible assembly systems initially produced 4-speed automatic transmissions in 1996, subsequently transitioning to 5-speed automatic transmissions in 2005, and 6-speed automatic transmissions in 2010 before shifting toward its modern, globally exclusive drivetrain specifications.

"As we celebrate 30 years of Honda manufacturing excellence in Ohio, we're not just reflecting on our history; we're accelerating toward the future. The unyielding continued commitment of TMP-O associates to producing top-quality drivetrains will allow us to continue building on the legacy we celebrate today," said Jason Foster, Power Unit Manufacturing Plant lead.

Kylie Huber, TMP-O Manufacturing Division lead, noted the facility's adaptation to industry shifts over three decades. "For 30 years, TMP-O has stood at the center of Honda's progress – driving innovation and demonstrating the power of passion and craftsmanship. As the industry has evolved, both Honda Transmission Plant-Ohio and our associates have evolved with it, meeting every challenge," Huber said.

The Russells Point plant has also established a baseline for environmental stewardship within Honda's production network. In 2014, the facility became the first major automotive manufacturing plant in the United States to secure a substantial percentage of its electrical power directly from wind turbines installed on its own property. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) subsequently awarded the plant an Energy Star Certificate for Outstanding Energy Efficiency in 2019, making it the first automotive transmission plant in the nation to earn the designation. Most recently, plant associates implemented an energy conservation project utilizing custom furnace covers designed to stop heat loss. In 2025, the installation of these covers successfully prevented the emission of 164 metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

On a regional scale, Honda is the largest manufacturing employer in Ohio, where it has built automobiles for more than 40 years. The company established its initial US manufacturing presence in Marysville in 1979 with motorcycle assembly, followed by the start of passenger car production at the Marysville Auto Plant (MAP) in November 1982.

Today, approximately 15,400 associates support Honda’s total manufacturing footprint in Ohio, representing a cumulative capital investment of US$14.5 billion. The state's collective network possesses an annual capacity to produce 460,000 Honda and Acura automobiles, 1.18 million vehicle engines, and over 1 million transmissions.

This infrastructure is distributed across five distinct Ohio manufacturing facilities: the Marysville Auto Plant, the East Liberty Auto Plant, the Performance Manufacturing Center, the Anna Engine Plant, and the transmission facility in Russells Point. Over the last five years, Honda has directed more than US$1.3 billion into these five locations to update machinery and integrate advanced production technologies. These capital improvements have given Honda the operational flexibility to manufacture internal combustion, hybrid, and battery-electric vehicles concurrently on the same assembly lines.