Marysville, Ohio – Associates at Honda of America Mfg. Inc. (HAM) celebrated the start of mass production of the 2018 Honda Accord with an announcement of new investments and jobs to support manufacturing of the 10th generation Accord.

Honda invested $267 million and is adding 300 new jobs to support production of the Honda Accord and to increase production at the Marysville Auto Plant (MAP). The investment total includes $220 million at MAP for new technologies and processes, including a $165 million weld department featuring 342 state-of-the-art welding robots and $47 million at Honda's nearby Anna, Ohio, engine plant for production of the 2018 Accord's 1.5L and 2.0L turbocharged engines, the first application of turbo power to the Accord lineup.

Additional new technologies applied to the manufacture of the new Accord at MAP include a laser brazing process for the Accord's roof and new stamping techniques to produce its more sharply sculpted body. In addition, Honda debuts Accord's first-ever use of high-performance structural adhesives for improved body rigidity, and the application of acoustic spray foam to the body for enhanced cabin quietness. Moreover, MAP has added a new sub-assembly process for the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) that will help power the new Accord Hybrid, which will return to production in Ohio.

"The new jobs and production growth will enable us to meet anticipated strong demand for the new Honda Accord," said Rob May, MAP plant manager. "Re-imagining the new Accord and bringing it to life took an incredible effort by our project team and our associates. The privilege of producing America's best-selling car for the last 41 years is a significant point of pride for our associates."

Accord, the first vehicle from a Japanese automaker to be made in America, has been in continuous production at the Marysville Auto Plant (MAP) since November 1982 – with cumulative U.S. production exceeding 11 million units during 35 years.

The 2018 Accord features a lighter and more rigid body structure, an advanced chassis design, two high-torque direct-injected and turbocharged engines, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and new safety, driver-assistive, and connected-car technologies.

The Honda-designed 10-speed automatic transmission (10AT), the first of its kind for a front-wheel-drive car, will be produced at Honda Precision Parts of Georgia transmission plant in Tallapoosa, Georgia. Honda recently announced a combined $149 million investment in the Russells Point, Ohio, and Tallapoosa plants to facilitate production of the new 10AT.

The Accord Hybrid will be powered by the third generation of Honda's two-motor hybrid technology.

The 2018 Accord is built using domestically and globally sourced parts.