Where Are Honda Insights Made? (Solved & Explained)

The Honda Insight is a hybrid vehicle that promises impressive fuel efficiency.

It rides better than similar vehicles and doesn’t trade off comfort for mileage.

Let’s find out where this amazing vehicle is made.

Where Are Honda Insights Being Made?

Honda manufactures the Insight models in Japan and the United States of America. In Japan, building of the Insight hybrids takes place at the Honda factory in Yorii, Saitama. Meanwhile, the Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMI) factory in Greensburg, Indiana, handles construction of the Insight in the USA.

Are Insights for the U.S. Market Produced in the U.S.?

Honda makes all Insight models offered to US buyers right in the country.

However, this practice is relatively recent, as older Insights had their parts made in Japanese factories.

Following the model’s resuscitation in 2018, Honda pumped money into the Greensburg, Indiana factory to equip it for hybrid-car production.

Since then, all American Insight models pass through Indiana before going to the market.

Also read our article on 11 Honda Insight Statistics You Should Know

Are They Being Assembled in the U.S.?

Honda used to assemble US-market Insight hybrids solely in Japan.

However, the Japanese automaker switched production locations for the Insight in 2018, as it sought to bring back the model after a lengthy hiatus.

The switch in production locations led to Honda assembling the Insight at its plant in Greensburg, Indiana.

All American Insight models released since 2019 are assembled in Indiana, USA.

Please also read our article about how long the Honda Insight last.

How Can You Check Where a Specific Honda Insight Was Produced?

Given the Honda Insight’s varied production history, you might be confused about where your model comes from.

Here’s a guide to checking your Honda Insight’s production location:

1. Use the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

The average car owner knows the Vehicle Identification Number is a unique 17-digit code that contains details about a car’s identity.

Cracking the VIN code can reveal both the country and specific plant where your Honda Insight was produced.

For starters, the initial letter/digit of the VIN points to the vehicle’s country of production.

Vehicles produced in the USA have a number (1/4/5) at the beginning of the VIN while cars from Japan have a letter, J, at the beginning of their VIN.

The VIN can also identify your Insight’s factory of production.

All you need to do is count up to the 11th character in the VIN and you’ll arrive at what’s called the Plant Code.

The plant code is a number or letter that shows buyers what factory assembled a vehicle.

2. Check Dates of Release

Examining release dates of Insight models can reveal where they were made. Here’s how to get manufacturing locations of Insights just by checking their year of production:

1. First Generation: Honda assembled the Insight at its factory in Tochigi, Japan between 1996 and 2004. It later moved production to its factory in Suzuka, Mie, also in Japan, for the years 2004 through 2006.
2. Second Generation: Honda assembled the Insight solely at the Suzuka, Mie factory in Japan between 2010 and 2014.
3. Third Generation: Honda started assembling US-market Insight hybrids in 2018 at its plant in Greensburg, Indiana, USA.

Based on the above details, you can cross-check your Insight’s production date with the aforementioned iterations to know its production location.

Are Japanese or European Built Insights Better?

While Honda has made the Insight in Japan, it has never built the hybrid in Europe. This means we cannot make any comparison — at least for now.

Where Is the Honda Insight Designed?

The current-generation Insight was designed by Honda’s lead designer Daisuke Tsutamori who also designed the Civic (Hatchback).

There’s scant information regarding the design location for the Insight.

However, we can assume Honda designed the Insight, like many of its models, at its Design Studio in Torrance, California.

Make sure to also read our article about driving the Honda Insight in snow and winter.

Where Are Honda Insights Made for the Australia Market?

Honda doesn’t sell the Insight on the Australia market.

However, you can still buy second-generation Insights in Australia, as these were sold in the country before the model’s discontinuation.

Where Are Honda Insights Made for the Canada Market?

Honda manufactures all Insights for the entire North American market, including Canada, at its plant in Indiana, USA.

But older models will likely be from Japan, which was the Insight’s sole country of production for the first two generations.

Where Are Honda Insights Made for the U.K Market?

Honda doesn’t make the Insight for the UK market anymore.

You can import a model from the US and have it modified for right hand-drive. Or you can buy an older UK-market second-generation Insight.

Also read our article about where the Honda Clarity is made.

Is Honda Planning to Move Its Production?

We haven’t seen indications that Honda is moving production of the Insight models.

Not after it spent millions of dollars on the Indiana plant to use it for production of the vehicle.

Is Honda Hiring or Firing in the U.S.?

Layoffs at Honda’s US factories have been few and far in between.

Most of the layoffs have been temporary; Honda has had to reduce production at some factories like other carmakers, no thanks to falling demand.

This has necessitated some temporary layoffs at Honda US factories pending a pickup in car sales and production.

You can still get a job at some Honda factories in the US, as our research shows some of them are hiring.

Is Honda an American Company?

Honda is a Japanese automobile manufacturer, with its head offices at Tokyo, Japan.

Even with its Japanese heritage, Honda has invested a lot in local production of its vehicles in the US.

As such, it’s easy to mistake it for an American brand.

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