As the award-winning models at our dealership will show you, our favorite automaker has the people in mind when it comes to their brand. Whether it's the industry-leading safety standards of our new and used cars or the philanthropic efforts of the Honda execs, it goes without saying that we have a whole lot to be proud of here at Castle Honda. And now in the wake of Superstorm  Sandy, the pride just continues to go.

Now that we're in the thick of a new year, the obvious thing we here at Castle Honda are excited for is the unveiling of next year's new Honda models. The less obvious, yet equally exciting developments come in the form of automaker growth plans. Because depending on how much an automaker invests, that not only means new cars, but new jobs and possibilities as well. And in an economy like this, what's not to love about a company that gives back?

Someone new is running the show at Honda Motors. Well, in fact this person will lead research and development for North America Honda subsidiaries. This department manages both compliance at Honda dealers, such as Castle Honda in Morton Grove, IL and is responsible for developing popular American Honda vehicles such as Honda Accord.

The new president of research and development is Erik Berkman. He will take on this new position on April 1, 2012. Berkman?

Across the U.S. and Canada diesel cars are starting to become popular again. Abroad, in countries like the United Kingdom and Germany, diesel is one of the most widely-used forms of fuel for any type of vehicle.

In India, the price of gasoline has been rapidly increasing partly because of the country's huge population. In order to fight off a fuel crisis, exporters of cars to India, such as Honda, are designing?

Jim Motavalli of Car Talk explained that about eighty percent of the car parts that Honda uses in their United States vehicles are made within the United States in some of the most sanitary factories. Motavalli toured a Honda plant in Marysville, OH and saw firsthand how incredible Honda's efforts are to try and reduce waste. The facility is 3.6 million square feet and there is not a piece of land or a…

Honda is expanding its facility in Alabama. They plan to invest $94 million dollars, creating 20 new jobs at a facility in the Lincoln area. Although Honda didn't explain reasons behind the expansion, sales of the Honda Pilot, built in Lincoln, has been on the rise. Catch one for a test drive at Castle Honda in Morton Grove, IL.

The Japanese automaker said the work will include installing new equipment. The project will increase…