All-new 2014 Acura MDX marks end of Canadian production for SUV
by Dan Ilika
Moving assembly of mid-size luxury SUV to Lincoln, Ala., plant after 12 years in Alliston, Ont.
TORONTO—Honda subsidiary Acura is quietly pulling production of its mid-size MDX sport utility vehicle out of Canada.
First announced in 2011, the move became official with the launch of the all-new 2014 MDX, unveiled at the New York International Auto Show, which will now be built at Honda’s Lincoln, Ala., plant.
The loss of the MDX—built at the automaker’s Alliston, Ont., assembly plant since its inception in 2000—is the latest Honda model no longer produced in Canada.
The Honda of Canada Manufacturing facility, located approximately 90 kilometres northwest of Toronto, has been home to the Honda Accord, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, and Acura ZDX and MDX, all of which have been moved to other plants over the years.
In 2011 Honda said the loss of the MDX would be offset by a boost in CR-V production numbers at Alliston Plant 2, which has been producing that compact SUV since 2012, and the Honda Civic, built at both Plants 1 and 2 since as early as 1988.
Steve Rodgers, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, said in an email to CanadianManufacturing.com he doesn’t expect a huge impact on Canadian parts suppliers with the loss of the MDX, though some parts may be sourced from plants closer to Lincoln, Ala.
“However these suppliers should be able to offset this loss with the production of components to support the new production at Alliston,” Rodgers said.
The seven-passenger 2014 MDX is being built on a completely new platform, according to Honda.
