Honda is planning a major expansion of its Brazilian motorcycle operation with an investment of 3.3 billion Brazilian reais, approximately 598 million dollars. The programme runs from 2026 to 2030 and aims to lift production capacity to 2.3 million motorcycles a year by 2029. The announcement came on 5 November at a ceremony held at the Manaus plant in the state of Amazonas, as Honda marks 50 years of motorcycle production in Brazil.

The new programme comes on top of 1.6 billion reais, approximately 290 million dollars, that Honda announced in 2025. Manaus builds all Honda motorcycles intended for the Brazilian market and will gain two new facilities within the existing industrial complex. Each facility is planned to have its own assembly line and related production processes. The plant currently has four lines distributed across two facilities.

A high-volume production base

Manaus already operates on a substantial scale. Over 50 years, the plant has built more than 33 million motorcycles, while current output stands at approximately 7,200 units per day. Its production range covers 20 models with engine capacities from 110 to 1,100 cc. The factory also serves markets beyond Brazil: motorcycles made there are exported to 19 countries, including the United States, Australia and Mexico. Honda describes Manaus as its motorcycle plant with the highest level of vertical integration worldwide.

Expansion alongside employment

The project is also expected to affect employment. Honda estimates that it will create 2,000 new jobs, in addition to the 9,200 people already directly employed at the plant. Honda president and CEO Toshihiro Mibe emphasised Manaus’s importance for productivity, quality and efficiency. Honda regards Brazil as a strategic centre for its global motorcycle activities, with Manaus serving both domestic demand and an established export network.