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It's easy to understand why Honda was reluctant to confirm reports out of Japan that it is planning to build a $2.5 billion hybrid vehicle plant in Ohio.
Though the Nikkei Business Daily said the company is in final preparations to expand its manufacturing footprint in the Buckeye State, a Honda spokesman told Reuters, "No decisions have been made at this stage regarding a new plant in the U.S."
At the same time, SK hynix is reportedly in talks with Intel about making memory chips in the U.S. for the first time with what MarketBeat called Intel's "long-delayed 'Ohio One' complex" as a partner.
But though Intel seized on the news quickly (it needs the boost), SK hynix would say only that it is "reviewing various measures" and no arrangements have been finalized, according to MarketBeat.
Recall, at one point Ohioans believed Intel's new plant would be churning out chips and sending paychecks home to Buckeye State families by now.
According to the latest anyone has heard from the matter, building at the site continues to be "slowed." From the outside, it looks like it has slowed to less than a crawl.
Amid criticism for JobsOhio and Intel, then, Honda and SK hynix are right to treat Ohioans with more respect than to make an announcement before they are absolutely certain of next steps. Of course it's easy to get excited when it seems as though good economic news is inevitable. It's hard to blame anyone who -- at the time -- believed Intel's announcement was a home run for the state.
But now we can be both cynical AND aware that it is encouraging to know Honda and SK hynix are exploring their options here. Perhaps they, too, will have announcements to celebrate down the road. This time, though, we won't count those chickens until they hatch.