It's official: '96 Civic is an American car

The next thing you know dogs and cats will be sleeping together. The Honda Civic will be classified as a U.S. domestic car for the first time with the debut of the all new '96 model, American Honda Motor Co. Inc. reveals. Sedan, coupe and hatchback versions of the car, built in East Liberty, OH, have an Environmental Protection Agency domestic content rating of 92%, Honda says. Actual domestic content, however, is in the 80% range, with fewer than 20% of Civic parts coming from Japan, says Brian Phillips, a purchasing executive for Honda of America Mfg. Inc. Honda has increased North American parts purchases for the Civic by $164 million, and 320 new parts are sourced here, Mr. Phillips says. Honda has added 32 North American suppliers for the '96 Civic -- 12 are new to Honda; 20 also supply Accord. Honda will purchase a total of $1.93 billion in North American parts for all the cars it builds in the U.S., Mr. Phillips says.