Significantly, By the end of September, NCM will discontinue production of gasoline lawnmowers “due to market forces” such as stricter environmental regulations and shifting customer preferences to become the sole producer of Honda ATVs in North America, enabling SCM to expand Honda side-by-side production of Pioneer and Talon sports models.

“Flexibility in manufacturing has always been key to our ability to meet the needs of Honda customers and it’s important that we continue to evolve our business to prepare for the future,” said David Werden, assistant vice president and production division lead at NCM.

Smaller youth-sized model production began at NCM in late April, with production of the TRX90, signaling the initial transition to Honda ATV production to North Carolina. Currently, the work being conducted by NCM is primarily focused on assembly until welding and paint equipment for ATV production is transferred from SCM in the coming months. Construction for welding and paint departments at NCM will begin this fall.

NCM currently employs more than 600 associates at the 700,000-square-foot plant, which represents according to Honda a cumulative investment of more than $380 million in North Carolina.