The Associated Press
GREENSBORO, N.C. — A Honda Motor Co. Ltd. subsidiary says initial deliveries of a lightweight private jet being built in North Carolina are now more than two years away.
spokesman Stephen Keeney said Monday delays in receiving unspecified major components from suppliers will force the delay until the third quarter of 2012.
Honda Aircraft began taking sales orders for its HondaJet in 2006, with initial deliveries originally scheduled late this year. Last year, however, the Greensboro-based company said Honda’s first aircraft would be delayed until late 2011 because of supply delays.
The $4 million jet features a bullet nose and engines mounted above the wings. It still must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Honda is building a 250,000-square-foot building at Piedmont Triad International Airport. Itshould be finished in early 2011.
Honda also built a 187,000-square-foot research and development center. It has about 450 employees and that number should grow to more than 600 when full production begins.
The Piedmont region won an intense recruiting battle for the plant in February 2007.
The company has had a research and development presence in Greensboro since 2001.
It selection Burlington as the site for a jet engine assembly plant.
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