Flashback to the early 1980s. Thirty-seven years ago this month, American Honda Motor Company announced plans to build a manufacturing plant in the U.S. In 1982, it became the first Japanese automaker to assemble cars in the U.S. at its new facility in Marysville, OH. Honda had joined the ranks of two other import automakers with manufacturing facilities in the U.S, Volkswagen and Renault, and, as they say, the rest is history. Bold moves such as these helped to shape the import nameplate infrastructure in the U.S., positioning the then import vehicle phenomenon on an impressive growth track that continues to accelerate today.