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Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley joined more than 1,500 associates at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) today to celebrate the start of mass production of the all-new 2014 Acura MDX luxury sport utility vehicle.

HMA is now the exclusive global production source of the Acura MDX, along with key Honda light truck models, including the Odyssey minivan, the Pilot sport utility vehicle and the Ridgeline pickup. HMA also builds the V-6 engines that power each model.  The 2014 Acura MDX features an all-new Earth Dreams Technology direct injection V-6 engine going into production in North America for the first time.

"Today, we celebrate a new Alabama-made vehicle, fueled by the pride of Honda associates who are committed to exceeding the expectations of our Acura customers," said Tom Shoupe, HMA president.  

Designed, engineered and developed in the U.S., the seven-passenger Acura MDX has long been a benchmark vehicle in its segment and Acura's top-selling vehicle for the past year. Built on a completely new platform, the redesigned 2014 MDX offers improved ride comfort, a more versatile and luxurious cabin, class-leading fuel economy and enhanced dynamic performance.

"What a beautiful vehicle we have created together," said Jim Keller, chief engineer for the 2014 Acura MDX at Honda R&D in Raymond, Ohio. "Today we celebrate not a finish line, but a starting line. Our race is just beginning, and to win this race takes a constant and committed focus on quality and on the customer."

The 2014 MDX, which will go on sale at Acura dealers nationwide in the coming weeks, is also designed to achieve the highest available safety ratings, and will be offered for the first time in a more affordable and even more fuel-efficient two-wheel-drive configuration. Pricing information will be announced closer to the on-sale date.

About Honda Manufacturing of Alabama
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama began production in 2001 with the Honda Odyssey minivan and now produces four vehicles and V-6 engines at its $2 billion facility in Lincoln. Using domestic and globally sourced parts, cumulative production in Alabama is now nearing three million vehicles and engines. HMA has invested almost $400 million during the past 24 months and has hired an additional 400 associates in both process and professional positions. HMA has also increased its production capacity by 40,000 units to a total of 340,000 vehicles and V-6 engines each year and now employs more than 4,000 associates.

About Honda Operations in North America
Honda now operates 14 major manufacturing facilities in North America, producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, and power equipment products such as lawn mowers, mini-tillers and general purpose engines, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Seven Honda auto plants in the North American region, including four in the U.S., have the capacity to produce 1.63 million automobiles each year. In 2012, 90 percent of the Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in North America. This will increase to 1.92 million vehicles per year in 2014, when the sales percentage of locally produced automobiles is expected to rise to more than 95 percent.

About Acura
Acura offers a full line of technologically advanced performance luxury vehicles through a network of 272 dealers within the United States. The Acura lineup features seven distinctive models including the all-new RLX luxury flagship sedan, the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX Sport Wagon and sedan, the ILX compact luxury sedan, the RDX luxury crossover SUV, the MDX luxury sport utility vehicle and the ZDX four-door sports coupe.

Contacts:
Ted Pratt, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC
ted_pratt@hma.honda.com
(205) 355-5137
(205) 515-8579 cell

Mark Morrison, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC
mark_morrison@hma.honda.com
(205) 355-5136
(205) 837-8678 cell

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