Eric North, Daily Reporter senior staff writer

A new Honda plant in Greensburg that will build 200,000 cars a year may not have an immediate effect on the company’s suppliers in Hancock County, but it certainly won’t hurt.

Honda announced Wednesday it would construct its $500 million facility just off I-74. It will open in 2008 and employ up to 2,000 people.

“We are still getting information on what will be assembled at the plant,” said Greg Young of Keihin Indiana Precision Technology Inc. in Greenfield.

The county’s largest employer makes fuel injection and engine management systems for the Japanese automaker, so Young is hoping that the new facility will be continuing good news for his plant and the entire region.

“We are still learning more about the plant and what will be built at the plant, but it gives us more opportunities and will keep our main customer’s manufacturing close,” Young said.

Keihin’s Aircon operation in Muncie produces air conditioning parts that are installed directly on Hondas so the new plant would be very good news for the company, according to Young.

“Parts from the plant in Muncie goes directly into the auto assembly business, so this gives them more opportunities to sell to Honda,” Young said.

Most of the assemblies shipped from the Greenfield Keihin facility go to a Honda engine plant in Ohio, so the local product will not go directly into the new operation. Young said, however, that the location means more chances to pitch Keihin products to its biggest customer.

Locally, officials say the job market in the area is very good but that the county’s close proximity to the new plant could mean some good job-hunting just before the plant opens its doors.

“The eastern part of the county is well situated in relation to the plant,” said Dennis Maloy of Hancock Economic Development Council.

Hancock County is close enough to the proposed plant that Maloy will soon be making the rounds and preparing information for potential spin off and supplier industries looking to locate close to the new plant.
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