Associates at Honda of South Carolina Mfg., Inc. celebrated the start of mass production of the all-new Talon sport side-by-side. HSC, which marked its 20th anniversary in 2018, makes all-terrain vehicles and is the exclusive global production source for Honda side-by-side vehicles.
The Honda Talon 1000X and 1000R, two new entries into the fast-growing sport side-by-side segment, highlight the skill and dedication of the engineers at Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Raymond, OH, who developed the Honda Talon and the experienced workforce who build it at Honda of South Carolina Mfg.
In an effort to meet growing demand for side-by-side vehicles, HSC completed a $45 million expansion project in 2018 that added 250 new jobs and 115,000 square feet of space. The project included a new weld area, a new paint line to enhance quality and color variations, along with new buildings and expansions to improve production efficiency. The plant also added automated guided carriers and lift assist devices to support quality, logistics, safety and ergonomic improvements for associates.
“Over the last 20 years, Honda in South Carolina has evolved from a small ATV manufacturing plant, to a world-class team that can produce a complex model like the Honda Talon sport side-by-side,” said Gary Mabrey, president of HSC. “This expansion and innovation was made possible through the efforts of the incredible team of associates who are dedicated to meeting the needs of our customers.”
Drawing upon countless hours of collaborative development with Honda R&D Americas, Talon brings a new level of off-road excitement, precision, performance and quality – pushing the envelope of what is possible in a sport side-by-side.
“The Talon is truly a standout side-by-side vehicle and I’m proud that associates at Honda of South Carolina are part of its development as well as its future,” said Chuck Boderman, vice president of powersports division of American Honda. “The sport side-by-side market is showing significant growth and it’s exciting to have the new Honda Talon for our dealers and our customers.”
Aware that a single offering would be a compromise for some conditions and driving styles, Honda developed two versions of the Talon. Each works across a broad array of conditions but specializes in a different area of the off-road spectrum. The two vehicles share a common frame and engine but have wheelbase and suspension configurations that are designed to shine in different applications. Both models function at a high level in a wide variety of terrain types, bringing a new level of control, style and refinement to a sport side-by-side market that is hungry for innovation, reliability and an improved driving experience.
Link: Honda
