Starting in 2025, the production of the Acura SUV with megacastings will begin. As reported by Luca Greco in his blog, the vehicle, based on the Acura Performance EV Concept, will be the first electric car to be produced at the Marysville auto plant by the end of 2025.
Honda plans to use megacasting technology for the first time in the production of the Acura SUV, marking a significant step forward in Honda's electric vehicle development. This approach aims to optimize the production process significantly by utilizing gigacasting.
As part of the retooling of its Marysville, Ohio, plant, Honda is installing six 6,000-ton Megapresses from BühlerPrince at the Anna Engine Plant. These machines will be used to manufacture casings for the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU), which houses the vehicle's battery. The use of megacasting allows for larger and lighter battery trays to be cast as a single piece, reducing the number of components and integrating multiple parts into one or two large sections.
Honda’s use of gigacasting technology will not be limited to the IPU.
New Plans for 2028
Starting in 2028, Honda plans to introduce megacastings for front and rear underbody components. These new, lighter structures hold the potential to greatly improve efficiency and reduce production costs.
In parallel, Honda is also making advancements in China. The newly created brand "Ye" will adopt an even more powerful 12,000-ton gigapress to cast entire battery trays in a single piece, further simplifying production. These developments indicate a strategic expansion of megacasting technology, which could lead to a drastic transformation in vehicle manufacturing.
