Honda's new light truck to be made at East Liberty plant

MARYSVILLE, Ohio - Honda officials say they are trying to determine whether additional workers will be needed at the East Liberty plant to accommodate production of a new light truck. <br> <br> The Japanese automaker announced on Tuesday the truck, as yet unnamed and tentatively being called Model X, will be built exclusively at the East Liberty plant. <br> <br> The decision was expected because the Model X is based on the Civic frame, which is made at East Liberty. <br> <br> Honda spokeswoman Sharon VanWinkle said it hasn&#39;t been determined how many Model X vehicles will be produced and whether the company will need to supplement its 2,550-employee work force at East Liberty. Production is to begin late this year. <br> <br> VanWinkle said Honda plans to shift some Civic production to other plants to accommodate assembly of the new truck. <br> <br> The 12-year-old East Liberty factory, about 40 miles northwest of Columbus in Logan County, produces the Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and GX natural gas vehicle. Last year it rolled out 236,029 vehicles. <br> <br> Honda also produces cars in Marysville, motorcycles in Marysville and engines in Anna. It employes a total of 13,000 workers at the four plants. <br> <br> The vehicle is expected to combine features of a pickup truck and a sport-utility vehicle and to cost less than $20,000. <br> <br> The Model X concept was introduced last year in a concept car with doors that open from the center and an interior designed to accommodate people, mountain bikes, surf boards and other bulky sports equipment. <br> <br> <br>