A new Honda manufacturing plant could be coming to the U.S., with operations set to begin in Ohio in 2030, according to a Nikkei report published Thursday (Sept. 24).
What to know: The plant would be a $1.8 billion to $2.5 billion investment by Honda, designed to produce larger hybrids, including SUVs.
Separate reports suggest construction could start as early as 2027, with an annual production capacity of 250,000 units, but negotiations around state subsidies remain up in the air.
For anyone following Honda this year, this is another major push by the OEM to lean into hybrids.
It also follows the brand's reversal of several EV decisions that no longer held up after federal incentives went away.
In fact: Just months ago, Honda said it faced up to $15.7 billion in EV-related restructuring costs, pushing the automaker to its first annual loss in nearly 70 years as a public company.
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Why this matters: Toyota offers 15 hybrid nameplates for the 2026 model year, or 17 counting variants. Honda, by comparison, offers four.
This is partly because Toyota made an early bet on hybrids, which left the brand well positioned, especially after EV tax credits were removed.
It's also partly because Honda has no hybrid options in its larger SUV models.
The good news for Honda dealers is that the automaker has already revealed plans to launch 15 next-gen hybrid models "primarily in North America" by 2030. Those models will come with an "all-new hybrid system and platform."
Which means: Nothing is final yet for the Ohio plant, but if the plan goes through, it could be money well spent. Hybrid demand has largely held up when gas prices are high, when EV concerns persist, and even when affordability weighs on the broader market.
Having a U.S. plant dedicated to hybrids could be exactly what Honda needs to enter the next decade better positioned against competitors like Toyota.
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