The Honda Accord, made in Marysville, was named 2018 North American Car of the Year at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Above, Henio Arcangeli, Senior Vice President of the Automobile Division of American Honda Motor Co., accepts the award at Monday’s presentation.
(Photo submitted)
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North America’s best car is made in Marysville.
The all-new 2018 Honda Accord, unveiled in September, was named as the 2018 North American Car of the Year Monday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit
“We’re especially proud for the production associates in Ohio where Accord has been built to the highest quality standards for over 35 years,” said Henio Arcangeli, Jr., senior vice president of the Automobile Division and general manager of Honda Sales, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Steve Rodriguez, Honda’s manufacturing leader for the Accord, said the car is “our baby here in Marysville and we are so proud of it.”
He said the 2018 Accord is, “the best Accord we have ever made.”
“I think this award says this team has a tremendous challenging spirit,” Rodriguez said. “The way car manufacturing is done is changing and our associates, and our supplies, had to be able to make changes and we have been able to do that.”
Rodriguez called the award, “the icing on the cake for us.”
“We have worked very hard and we are super excited,” Rodriguez said. “We are proud of the 2018 Accord and proud of the award, but mostly, we are super excited for our customers to get behind the wheel.”
Officials from North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY), the governing body that presents the award, explained a panel of more than 60 jurors from print, online and broadcast media chooses the award across the United States and Canada.
The process began in June and includes three rounds of voting. Dozens of cars were eligible for the award. According to a NACTOY releases, jurors evaluated the finalists “based on segment leadership, innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.”
In addition to the Accord, the Kia Stinger and the Toyota Camry were also finalists for the award.
“Honda seems to have executed some sort of magic trick — not only is this 10th-generation Accord far sleeker and more decisively styled than its predecessor, it’s somehow roomier inside, too,” Chris Paukert, a NACTOY juror and managing editor of Road Show by CNET, wrote in a release. “Even in low-end trims, it drives well and offers a strong amount of standard equipment.”
Arcangeli said Honda took, “a clean-sheet approach to reinventing America’s most popular car, and we couldn’t be prouder to receive this honor for Accord as the North American Car of the Year.”
Plant Manager Rob May has said much of the design took place in Japan, but with Marysville’s help. He said at least 10 families were moved to Japan for 18 months to participate in the design process.
Officials said even after the car was designed, local associates were still offering input. May said many associates drove hidden versions of the new Accord around Marysville and central Ohio. The drivers got reaction from people and completed surveys about the reactions and their own driving experience.
Officials said the new Accord is the ninth to be built in Marysville and the 10th overall.
“Part of the greatness of this car is that Honda has continuously produced this car, the flagship of the Honda brand, here in Marysville for 35 years,” Tom Shoup, executive vice-president of Honda, said in September.
Ray McKiciuk, assistant vice-president of Honda Sales for American Honda Motor Co., said the new Accord “drives as good as it looks,” and “it is an Accord through and through.”
McKiciuk said it’s “impossible to overstate the importance of the Accord to the Honda brand.”
He called the Honda Marysville Auto Plant associates “the heart and soul of the U.S. manufacturing operations.”
Now in its 24th year, the NACTOY gives out three awards — North American Car of the Year, North American Utility of the Year and North American Truck of the Year.
Honda officials noted the Accord’s win marks the third consecutive year a Honda model has received top honors from the North American jury of automotive journalists. In 2016, the Honda Civic was named Car of the Year and last year, the Honda Ridgeline won the truck award.
The Volvo XC60 and Lincoln Navigator took home 2018 utility vehicle and truck awards.