Honda Power Equipment Mfg., Inc. will undertake a $46.4 million investment to expand manufacturing capabilities in Swepsonville, North Carolina.

HPE plans to begin production in September of an all-new Honda HRN lawn mower. The new investment strengthens HPE's production technologies in the North Carolina plant and includes a production line for the new Honda GCV general-purpose engine and a 135,000 sq. feet plant expansion for parts storage. The plant has the capacity to produce 2 million general-purpose engines per year, including the GCV engine, which is designed specifically for premium, residential power equipment applications.

"For more than 35 years, Honda associates in North Carolina have made high quality power equipment products that help make people's lives better," said Shane McCoy, Senior Vice President at HPE. "Our decision to invest in Honda's Swepsonville plant fulfills Honda's longstanding approach to build products close to the customer and demonstrates our strong commitment to North Carolina."

In addition to the investment and expansion announced today, HPE invested $10.5 million in a 116,000 sq. feet plant expansion announced in February 2018, which now supports assembly and parts storage operations. Once all renovation is completed, this area will house the new engine line. Honda has invested a total of $350 million in the North Carolina facility.

According to company officials, HPE is one of Honda's highest producing plants in the world with the annual capacity to produce more than two million Honda general-purpose engines and 500,000 finished products, including Honda lawn mowers, snow throwers, string trimmers, mini-tillers and generators.

HPE began production of lawn mowers in 1984, as the third Honda manufacturing plant in America, with cumulative production now topping 38 million products for Honda customers in the U.S. and around the world.