Company Plans To Begin Deliveries In 2010

Honda Aircraft Company broke ground on its 369,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility in a ceremony Wednesday at Piedmont Triad International Airport.

The company announced the plan to establish its world headquarters and jet plant in Greensboro, NC, in February. The facility will be the center of all activity related to HondaJet, including type certification, all sales, marketing and service support activity, as well as continued research and development activities.

It expects to employ more than 300 associates at its headquarters and manufacturing facilities once the plant reaches full production, according to the company.

Representatives of Honda, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point took a turn at the shovel during the ground-breaking ceremony.

"By breaking ground for this new Honda Aircraft facility today, we take the next important step in getting HondaJets into the skies tomorrow," said Michimasa Fujino, president and CEO of Honda Aircraft.

Greensboro Mayor Keith Holliday said the day would be "a day to remember." 

The three Triad cities contributed to an incentives package offered to Honda to secure both the headquarters and manufacturing facility. Total investment for the project is expected to be around $100 million, according to the NC Business Journal.

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said, "The fact that you see the three cities standing here demonstrates that the Triad can and does work together for economic development."

Honda plans to begin deliveries of the jets to customers in 2010. The first phase of construction which will consist of 219,000 square feet of offices, research facilities and an airplane hangar is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2008.

FMI: www.hondajet.honda.com, www.flyfrompti.com