Associates at Honda's first U.S. auto plant in Marysville, Ohio, assemble vehicles on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of American Honda Motor Co. on June 11, 1959. Honda now employs more than 27,000 associates in the United States engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, sales and service of a broad range of automobiles, motorcycles and other products. Honda's U.S. manufacturing operations started in 1979. Honda operates 10 manufacturing plants in the U.S. using domestic and globally sourced parts, along with 14 R&D facilities and more than 12 regional sales, parts and service offices. Honda has a network of 545 parts suppliers in the U.S., with purchases exceeding $17.5 billion in 2008.