Honda breaks ground at new head office in Canada

MARKHAM (October 18, 2007) – Honda Canada Inc. today conducted a ceremonial groundbreaking to commemorate the start of construction for a new head office campus in Markham, Ontario.

The new campus will be located on a 53.3-acre parcel of land fronting Highway 404, just north of Elgin Mills Road. The project is estimated to take a minimum of two years to complete, with a tentative move-in date of summer 2009.

“Today we are celebrating more than just the construction of new buildings,” said Hiroshi Kobayashi, President and CEO of Honda Canada Inc. “We are celebrating our continuing commitment to Canada. Our new campus is not just about buildings of steel and glass – it is about building for the future and about creating an environment where Honda associates can grow and thrive in order to better serve our customers.”

“Honda’s leading-edge investment here in Markham is another strong vote of confidence in Ontario’s workforce and the innovation that thrives in our auto sector,” said David Caplan, Ontario Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal. “Auto companies around the world are realizing that an investment in Ontario is an investment in long-term success. I’d like to thank Honda Canada for recognizing the value of our province and our people.”

Town of Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said, “I’m delighted to welcome Honda Canada to the Town of Markham. Honda is one of Canada’s leading corporate citizens, embracing values we prize – and share. Their commitment to the environment, for example, is evident in the design of the new headquarters which Honda is trying to build to LEED® standards; in the 71,000 trees planted across the country by Honda associates and their families in recent years; and their leadership in reducing fuel consumption and emissions in its vehicles.”

On hand for the groundbreaking ceremonies were Hiroshi Kobayashi, President and CEO of Honda Canada Inc.; David Caplan, Ontario Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal; and Frank Scarpitti, Town of Markham Mayor.

The new campus with 46,450 square metres (500,000 square feet) of building space is designed to provide Honda Canada with greater operational efficiencies for its growing sales, marketing and customer service teams with a total of approximately 700 associates.

The Honda Canada campus will feature three separate but interconnected buildings, including a four-storey building for the head office that is being designed to be LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certified, advancing Honda’s continued commitment to the environment. The campus will also include a technical centre that accommodates research and development, engineering and training, and a one-storey parts distribution centre. The project design and build will be completed through a joint partnership with ZAS + HOK architects.

Honda Canada is working on a number of environmental initiatives, which are designed to contribute to its head office building being LEED® Gold Certified. Some of the key items will include:

# Storm water management: Storage of rain water off the Parts Distribution Centre roof stored underground for use in irrigation system
# Rain water off parking surfaces to be drained through bio filters before released to public sewer systems
# Heat-reflective materials on the roof on buildings to minimize cooling requirements
# Orientation of the buildings to optimize energy performance
# Construction waste management: minimizing the amount of waste to landfill through recycling or reuse

The relocation to Markham, Ontario, reflects Honda’s commitment to its Associates, community and brand. The Markham location offers access to transportation infrastructure, respecting travel distances required of existing Associates. As active community partners, Honda also looks forward to contributing to its new local community and the York Region through volunteerism and outreach initiatives.

Building on its 2010 commitment to be a company that Canadians want to exist, as the country’s fourth largest privately held company, Honda lives, works and plays in communities across Canada:

# employing about 5,100 Honda Canada Associates coast-to-coast
# manufacturing 390,000 Honda and Acura vehicles annually at its two manufacturing facilities in Alliston, ON
donating annually to charitable organization to local community organizations, and through the Honda Canada Foundation that focuses giving to registered charities
# bringing to market the Honda Benefit of ‘green, safe, fun’ automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, power equipment and marine engines
# investing in excess of $2.4 billion in Canada through its two manufacturing facilities in Alliston, ON, a new engine plant that will begin operation in Alliston next year, and the new head office campus in Markham

Honda is the world’s largest producer of gasoline-powered products, including automobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, power equipment and marine engines. With 130 manufacturing facilities in 29 countries worldwide, Honda now attracts nearly 20 million customers annually.