ALLISTON, Ont. (CP) -- Honda Canada says it will start up a second shift and add 400 jobs at its No. 2 assembly plant in central Ontario early next year, the second major automaker in less than a week to announce they're revving up production.
The No. 2 Honda Canada plant in Alliston, Ont., produces the Honda Civic sedan, Acura MDX sport utility vehicle and Acura ZDX crossover.
The company also makes the Honda Civic coupe and sedan, as well as the Canadian-exclusive Acura CSX luxury compact sedan, at its No. 1 assembly plant and produces engines at a parts plant in Alliston.
"We are pleased to be making this announcement as the Canadian economy continues to show signs of recovery," said Manabu Nishimae, president and CEO of Honda Canada Inc.
There are several signs that Ontario's battered auto sector is getting back to life following a disastrous year.
General Motors of Canada announced last week that it will recall more than 700 laid-off employees at two of its Ontario plants, most of them in Oshawa. GM Canada is adding a third shift to one of its plants in Oshawa and adding jobs at a CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ont.
Although Honda and the other Japanese automakers weren't as badly hurt by the recession as GM and Chrysler, which had to be bailed out by governments in the United States and Canada, the entire industry suffered from the downturn.
Most of the vehicles produced in Ontario, which is the heart of Canada's auto sector, are produced for export to the U.S. market.
Honda noted on Tuesday, however, that half of the vehicles it sold in Canada last year were made in Alliston.
