GREENBURG, IN --- Honda Manufacturing of Indiana LLC (HMIN) has begun production of the natural gas-powered Civic GX. 

HMIN associate Alonzo Miles of Indianapolis drove the first Civic GX off the line in a special ceremony at the plant in Greenburg. 

The Civic GX has received top environmental awards, including the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy's "America's Greenest Car" award for five consecutive years. 

First introduced in 1998, the Civic GX is certified by the EPA as 90 percent cleaner than the average gasoline-powered car on the road today. As a result, the GX is certified by the EPA as an Inherently Low Emissions Vehicle (ILEV). It is the only natural gas powered passenger car available for sale in all 50 states, and is eligible for a $4,000 federal tax credit as a qualified alternative fuel vehicle. 

The Civic GX was formerly produced at Honda's East Liberty, Ohio plant and has 10 years of performance as a natural gas-powered vehicle. It has an average range of more than 220 miles. The car's fuel economy is 24 mpg (city) and 36 mpg (highway). 

Honda Manufacturing of Indiana began Civic GX production just seven months after starting mass production of the 4-cylinder Honda Civic sedan at its new plant in Greensburg, Ind. The $550 million plant employs approximately 1,000 associates and is designed as a zero waste-to-landfill facility. 

Assembling the Civic GX brings flexibility and new capabilities at the plant. HMIN is a comprehensive production facility that includes metal stamping, plastic injection molding, subassembly and final assembly. Producing the GX on the same assembly line with other vehicles required the addition of unique production processes, including fuel tank sub-assembly and installation, and a fueling center for compressed natural gas. 

"We are excited about producing the environmentally responsible Civic GX, the latest production milestone in our short history here in Indiana," said HMIN President Yuzo Uenohara. 

The Honda Civic sedan being built in Indiana features the fuel-efficient 140-hp, 1.8-liter, 16-valve SOHC i-VTECÂ 4-cylinder gasoline engine also produced by Honda associates in Anna, Ohio. As in all new 2009 model Honda and Acura automobiles, the engine meets or exceeds U.S. EPA Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standards. The Civic sedan also qualifies as an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) as rated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).