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“This new RDX defines the future of Acura, and our Ohio team did an incredible job preparing this first in a new generation of Acura vehicles for our customers,” said Jim Hefner, plant manager at the East Liberty Auto Plant in a news release. “Paired with a new Ohio-made 2.0-liter Turbo engine, an all-new platform and a host of new technologies, the 2019 RDX sets a new high bar for style, performance and sophistication in a compact luxury SUV.”
Company officials said the five-passenger SUV underwent a complete redesign. The vehicles are expected to begin arriving at Acura dealerships beginning in June.
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On Monday, Honda announced a separate plan to invest more than $30 million at three facilities in Ohio related to the launch of the new 2019 Honda Insight hybrid model at Honda's facility in Greensburg, Ind.
According to information from Honda, the company’s $54 million investment included new technologies at East Liberty to develop the SUV’s moonroof and to use new structural adhesives to strengthen the vehicle’s body.
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Five of the six models in the Acura lineup are made in Ohio, according to information from the company. The ILX and TLX luxury sports sedans are assembled at the Marysville Auto Plant while the RDX and MDX luxury SUVs are assembled in East Liberty. The Acura NSX supercar is built at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville.
About 1,400 workers from Clark and Champaign counties work for the automaker, and it employs approximately 14,500 Ohioans overall.
Honda spent a record $32.4 billion for parts and materials from U.S. suppliers for its North America operations last year, including firms in Clark and Champaign Counties. Of that, company officials said about $10 billion was spent in Ohio with 173 suppliers.
The Springfield News-Sun is committed to providing unmatched coverage of Honda and other major employers in the region. For this story, the paper covered the start of production of the Acura RDX sport utility vehicle in East Liberty, Ohio.
By the numbers:
$54M — Honda’s investment in East Liberty plant
5 — Acura models produced in Ohio
2006 — Year the model was first launched
375,000 units — Cumulative U.S. sales
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