“Made in the USA”

By Keith Gilabert












 

Japanese auto manufacturing made a significant impact on the American car market in the 1970s with vast improvements in quality, reliability and fuel economy. As a result, the three major American firms were forced to change the way they manufactured cars.

Then in 1982, with only 5% of the car market, Honda Accord became the first car from a Japanese manufacturer to be produced in the United States when production commenced in  Ohio at Honda's Marysville Auto Plant. The Accord has achieved considerable success, especially in the United States, in 1990 the Accord sedan unseated the Ford Taurus as the best-selling car in America.  The Ohio built Accord went on to be the #1 selling car for fifteen years (1982–97), topping its class in sales in 1991 and 2001, with around ten million vehicles sold.  Numerous road tests, past and present, rate the Accord as one of the world's most reliable vehicles.

A testament to American manufacturing and Japanese engineering is Joe LoCicero who purchased “True Blue,” his 1990 Honda Accord LX which he purchased used in 1996 with 74,000 mile on it.  Joe set out with the mission to prove that with proper maintenance that he could extend the life of his Accord.

After 15 years and 185 oil changes, 72 tires 31 transmission fluid changes and 13 sets of brakes pads, Joe has over 1,000,000 miles on his Accord. 

Today five of the top ten selling cars in the United States are from Japanese companies but are made in America.  The following automobiles are foreign owned but domestic in manufacturing:  Toyota Camry, Sienna, Tundra and Honda Accord and Pilot.