In this Honda history, we briefly look at the origin, models, information, and facts about the Honda car brand.
The Honda Motor Company is a public multinational corporation based in Japan primarily known for its production of automobiles, motorcycles, and power/electrical equipment.
It is Japan’s second-largest automobile manufacturing company and the eighth largest in the World.
It was also the first Japanese automobile manufacturing brand to release Acura’s luxury brand in 1986.
They are also involved in manufacturing garden equipment, power generators, marine engines, and several other products.
Since 1986, the company has delved into artificial intelligence/robotics research, and the year 2000 saw the release of its ASIMO robot.
They are also involved in aerospace development.
The company currently has three joint-ventures in China: Honda China, Dongfeng Honda, and Guangqi Honda.
Honda Information
- Year Founded: October 1946, incorporated September 24, 1948
- Founder: Soichiro Honda
- Headquarters: Minato, Tokyo, Japan
- CEO: Takahiro Hachigo
- Website: global.honda
Current Honda Logo
The Honda Logo is a capital “H,” which is the first letter of the founders name Soichiro “Honda.”
The letter “H” appears as the brand’s badge.
Honda History
In October 1946, Soichiro Honda founded the Honda Motor Company.
He had always been fascinated by automobile gadgets from a tender age and often modified cars in his friend’s garage and enter them into races.
Along the line, he delves into the automobile industry and soon got a contract to supply piston rings for Major car maker Toyota.
Sadly he lost the deal as he did not produce the desired quality Toyota wanted.
That little failure didn’t discourage Honda as he went to various Japanese factories, seeking ways to make efficient piston rings.
His effort paid off as he soon discovered a highly automated process to manufacture high-quality piston rings and returned to Toyota.
This time his product impressed Toyota, who promptly bought it in 1941.
He began mass production of his product and thus started a Tokai Seiki company to sell his product at a larger scale.
Toyota got interested and bought 40% of the company, and that was the beginning of a business relationship between Soichiro and the officials at Toyota.
However, the twist turned out different as Soichiro was greatly affected by several calamitous damages to his portion of the company, forcing him to sell his share of the company to Toyota.
In 1946, Soichiro founded Honda Technical Research Institute and began selling customized bicycles with attached motors with only 12 employees.
In 1949, Honda and his staff concluded development and released the Model D, the first complete motorcycle made with their part.
Soon there was a high demand for this low priced vehicle.
By 1964, they had become the World’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles. With success in motorcycle production, Honda didn’t stop there.
They tried their hands on other new endeavors and, by 1963, released their first four-wheel vehicle, a T360 mini pick-up truck.
That development pushed them further in expanding their vehicle production range, and soon their first car was made; the S500 Sports Car.
1986 saw them venturing into luxury car production, and the Acura was made.
In 1991 they produced the first vehicle to feature a V6 engine with the latest variable-valve timing; the Honda NSX Supercar.
At this period, as a company, Honda had broken ground and made tremendous business success in the automobile industry.
They kept on evolving, innovating, producing engines, generators, scooters, and cars successfully.
Fast-forward to the modern from the late 1940s; Honda has risen to become one of the reputable automobile making company in the World.
It is the eighth biggest automobile manufacturer in the World and boasts more than $99 billion in revenues with over 175,000 employees worldwide.
From producing motorcycle to making some of the finest cars on the planet, Honda has firmly cemented its feet as one of the most prominent players in the world automobile market.
Honda Facts
- Soichiro Honda founded Honda Motors
- Motorized bicycles were Honda first products
- Honda was the first automobile company to incorporate a V-Tech engine in a production vehicle.
- The very first car manufactured by Honda was the S500.
- Honda Accord is the first foreign vehicle manufactured in the U.S.
- Honda is the largest engine manufacturer in the World.
- Honda once made a private jet aircraft.
List of Honda Models
- Honda CR-V
- Honda Avancier
- Honda Pilot
- Honda Crosstour
- Honda Element
- Honda BR-V
- Honda Odyssey
- Honda N-One
- Honda StepWGN
- Honda Jazz
- Honda Vamos
- Honda Civic
- Honda City
- Honda Ascot
- Honda Accord
- Honda CR-Z
- Honda Airwave
- Honda HR-V
- Honda Mobilio
- Honda Stream
- Honda NSX
- Honda Capa
- Honda Urban EV concept
- Honda Project 2&4
- Honda FCX
- Honda EV-N
- Honda FCX
- Honda FC Sport
- Honda HS
- Honda OSM
- Honda Urban SUV
- Honda SUT
- Honda Step Bus
- Honda SSM
- Honda Small Hybrid Sports
- Honda S360
- Honda Remix
- Honda Puyo
- Honda OSM
- Honda N800
- Honda MV-99
- Honda Model X
- Honda Kiwami
- Honda J-WJ
- Honda J-VX
- Honda J-MW
- Honda J-MJ
- Honda Imas
- Honda HSC
- Honda Gear
- Honda Fuya-Jo
- Honda FCX
- Honda Dualnote (of DN-X)
- Honda ASM
- Honda ZEST
- Honda Ridgeline
- Honda Legend
- Honda FCX Clarity
- Honda Brio
- Honda Acty
- Honda Wow
- Honda Fit Shuttle
- Honda Inspire
- Honda Freed
- Honda Elysion
- Honda Ballade
- Honda Life
- Honda Integra
- Honda Passport
- Honda That’s
- Honda Odyssey/Shuttle (international market) (1995-present)
- Honda MDX (2003-present)
- Honda Insight, a hybrid electric vehicle (2000-2006, 2009-present)
- Honda Fit
- Honda Civic Hybrid (2003-present)
- Honda Civic GX
- Honda Civic GTi
- Honda Civic Type R
- Honda Hobio (2003-present)
- Honda Fit Aria (1981-present)
- Honda Caren (1990)
- Honda Brio Amaze
- Honda 2008 RA108
- Honda 2007 RA107
- Honda 2006 RA106
- Honda 1969 R-1300
- Honda 1968 RA302
- Honda 1968 RA301
- Honda 1967 RA300
- Honda 1966 RA273
- Honda 1965 RA272
- Honda 1964 RA271
- Honda 1963–1967 T360
- Honda TN360/TN-III
- Honda TN-Acty
- Honda Quint Integra
- Honda 2004–2009 Honda FR-V, a 6 seater
- Honda 2004–2009 Edix
- Honda 2002–2008 Mobilio Spike
- Honda 2002–2007 That’s
- Honda 2000–2004 Life Dunk
- Honda 1999–2009 S2000
- Honda 1999–2009 S2000
- Honda 1999–2004 LaGreat
- Honda 1997–2002 Torneo
- Honda 1997–1999 EV Plus, an electric vehicle
- Honda 1996–2010 Partner Van
- Honda 1996–2002 S-MX
- Honda 1996–2002 Orthia
- Honda 1996–2001 Logo
- Honda 1995–2003 Saber
- Honda 1994–2002 Passport
- Honda 1993–1998, 2008–2010 Crossroad
- Honda 1993–1997 Rafaga
- Honda 1992–2004 Domani
- Honda 1992–1997 CR-X del Sol
- Honda 1992–1995 NSX-R
- Honda 1991–1996 Beat
- Honda 1988–1994 Concerto
- Honda 1985–2007 Integra
- Honda 1985–1997 Today
- Honda 1983–1991 CR-X (a.k.a. Ballade Sports CR-X or Civic CR-X)
- Honda 1981–1999 Street
- Honda 1980–2002 Ballade
- Honda 1980–1985 Quintet
- Honda 1978–2001 Prelude
- Honda 1973–1974 Life Pick-Up
- Honda 1972–1974 Life StepVan
- Honda 1972 1300
- Honda 1970–1974, 1998–2002 Z
- Honda 1969–1972 N600
- Honda 1967–1970 N360/N400
- Honda 1966–1970 S800
- Honda 1966–1967 L800
- Honda 1965–1966 SM600
- Honda 1965 L700
- Honda 1964–1967 T500
- Honda 1964–1966 S600
- Honda 1963–1964 S500
- Honda Life Dunk
- Honda Mobilio Spike
- Honda Quint
- Honda S600
- Honda Domani
- Honda Concerto
- Honda N360
- Honda L700
- Honda T360
- Honda Prelude
- Honda S500
- Honda Beat
- Honda Crossroad
- Honda Torneo
- Honda S800
- Honda Stepwgn
- Honda Today
- Honda Logo
- Honda CR-X del Sol
- Honda 1300
- Honda S-MX
- Honda Orthia
- Honda CR-X
- Honda Z
- Honda S2000
- Honda EV Plus
- Honda Z600
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