Mass production for the new model 2021 Acura TLX began this morning. The vehicle will be made at Honda’s Marysville Auto Plant. (Photo submitted)
The newest Acura will be made at the Marysville Auto Plant.
Mass production of the all-new 2021 Acura TLX sport sedan began today at MAP.
Bill Easdale, Marysville Auto Plant General Manager, said that while a new model is “a really big deal” there was little doubt it would be made locally.
“One really key thing, that doesn’t happen just by accident, but is really strategic, is that all of the Acuras built in the United States, are built within 10 miles of the Marysville facility,” Easdale said. “We could make these in a lot of different areas, but we believe the experience and craftsmanship is at the highest level here.”
He said the local buildings and infrastructure mean nothing, but the associates “who pour their heart and soul making great products” mean everything.
Officials said the local team, “implemented sophisticated manufacturing technologies,” even developing and pioneering some to “assure superior build quality and premium refinement for the 2021 TLX.”
“Our associates are dedicated to ensuring the highest level of quality with this new TLX, which comes on the heels of an incredibly successful Acura RDX sport-utility vehicle and the electrified NSX supercar, all made exclusively in Ohio,” Easdale said.
Honda officials said the new model development has created new jobs, but not in the traditional way.
Easdale said that while the new product will not necessarily create more production jobs, because Honda’s workforce is aging, this is the last new model many associates will work on.
“So, we are working very hard with this model to transition their knowledge to other people, more junior,” Easdale said. “As they learn and move up, that creates new hiring also. We are hiring and that is really great news for our community.”
He said the learning environment for the new model was especially challenging.
“When you think about what we have gone through the last five months, it just makes this launch all the more special and when I see this car going down the road, there will be a huge amount of pride because I know what it took, the hard work and effort it took over and above even the normal challenges,” Easdale said.
Marc Ernst, TLX global development leader, said that for everyone who designed and developed the car, seeing the first one roll off the assembly line is “a dream come true.”
“This TLX epitomizes Acura’s focus on performance and premium quality, and the passion of both our development and manufacturing teams here in Ohio are embodied in the product that we’re delivering to our Acura customers,” Ernst said.
Easdale said that if buyers like the new model and sales increase, it could mean more cars being produced and more production jobs for the plant.
“Certainly, it is our intention to make more of the vehicles, but that will be up to the consumers,” he said.
Officials said they are “very confident” that customers will like the car, which Easdale said is “similar in name and that’s about it.”
Officials have said the new TLX as well as the TLX Type S high performance variant “will be the quickest, best-handling and most well-appointed sport sedan in the brand’s 35-year history.”
The 2021 TLX will arrive at dealerships Sept. 28 with a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) starting at $37,500.