Union construction jobs are surging in Central Ohio, thanks in part to Honda retooling three of its Ohio production plants for electric vehicle manufacturing. Crews are on-site in Marysville, Anna, and East Liberty as the automaker moves toward an all-electric future, and the work is putting skilled tradespeople, including members of Insulators Local 50, to work across the state.
A Statewide EV Buildout
While the new joint Honda-LG Energy Solutions battery megaproject in Jeffersonville has drawn most of the attention, it’s only part of the picture. Honda is investing roughly $700 million to retool its Marysville, Anna Engine, and East Liberty plants to support EV production, with construction on all three sites progressing on schedule as of this spring.
Combined, the three retooling projects are expected to generate about 800 construction jobs. Over its more than 40-year history in Ohio, Honda has repeatedly partnered with regional building trades councils, signing multiple Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) to construct, maintain and expand its multi-billion dollar manufacturing footprint.
The battery plant itself is being built under a PLA, and while the retooling work at the other three plants isn’t covered by such an agreement, the large majority of that work is still being performed by union tradesmen and tradeswomen. Electricians, carpenters, laborers, ironworkers, and pipefitters are all on site. Members of Local 50 will join the projects later in the process.
Marysville: One Line, Two Powertrains
At the Marysville plant, crews are consolidating two separate production lines into one so Honda can build EVs and internal-combustion vehicles side by side. With EV sales growth cooling off, Honda needs the flexibility to keep producing gas-powered vehicles while it works toward a full transition to EVs by 2040.
“We do believe we can very efficiently make the ICE and the EV on the same line and that’s what this retooling is about,” said Bob Nelson, Executive Vice President of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Construction crews have already removed most of Marysville’s second line, opening up space to improve workflow for parts delivery and vehicle staging. A separate area of the plant has also been renovated into a new workspace where about 300 Honda employees will begin assembling the housing units for EV battery packs — units that will eventually supply both the Marysville and East Liberty lines.
Anna Engine Plant: From Engines to EV Structure
The Anna plant currently builds engines, transmissions, camshafts and crankshafts. Once retooling work wraps up, it will take on a different role: producing the structural case that houses EV batteries and doubles as the main floor frame for Honda and Acura EVs.
To make that possible, crews are installing six 6,000-ton high-pressure die-cast machines. Making room for that new production required shifting two generations of engine-component manufacturing to a Honda plant in Alabama.
East Liberty: Built for Heavier Vehicles
At East Liberty, construction crews are building a single production line capable of handling EVs that weigh significantly more than traditional gas-powered vehicles. That means reinforcing the plant’s overhead conveyor system and expanding the paint department to accommodate the added weight.
A 45-Year Partnership
For the past 45 years, Honda of America has trusted members of the Central Ohio building trades, including members of Insulators Local 50, to build, maintain, expand and retool their facilities.
By utilizing Project Labor Agreements, Honda is making sure their projects finish on time and on budget, while being built with the highest quality craftsmanship.
What It Means for Local 50 Members
Honda’s total commitment to making Ohio its North American EV hub now stands at $3.5 billion. For Insulators Local 50 members, that translates directly into sustained, good-paying work with the retooling across all three existing plants expected to wrap up by fall 2025.
For experienced mechanical insulators considering where the work is headed, projects like this underscore why Ohio’s industrial construction market will remain strong for years to come and why there’s steady demand for skilled hands on the tools.
Spanish 
English