Honda

Honda
source
Name	Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Native name	本田技研工業株式会社
Type	Public
Traded as	TYO: 7267, NYSE: HMC
Industry	Conglomerate
Founded	24 September 1948
Founder	Soichiro Honda
Hq location	Minato, Tokyo
Hq location country	Japan
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Toshihiro Mibe (President & CEO)
Products	Automobiles, motorcycles, power equipment, jet engines
Revenue	▲ ¥14.55 trillion (2023)
Num employees	167,231 (2023)

Honda. The company is a major Japanese multinational corporation and one of the world's largest manufacturers of internal combustion engines by volume. Founded by the visionary engineer Soichiro Honda, it has grown from a post-war bicycle auxiliary engine manufacturer into a global powerhouse in automotive and motorcycle manufacturing, as well as a leader in robotics and aerospace engineering. Its reputation is built on engineering excellence, reliability, and a deep commitment to research and development, encapsulated in its corporate slogan, "The Power of Dreams."

History

The company's origins trace back to 1946 with the establishment of the Honda Technical Research Institute in Hamamatsu, where Soichiro Honda began adapting surplus World War II generator engines for use on bicycles. Incorporated in 1948, the firm introduced its first complete motorcycle, the Dream D-Type, in 1949, with financial and managerial expertise provided by co-founder Takeo Fujisawa. A pivotal moment came in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co. in Los Angeles, marking its ambitious entry into the United States market. The Honda Super Cub, introduced in 1958, became a global phenomenon and the best-selling motor vehicle in history. Diversifying into automobiles, the first production car, the Honda T360 kei truck, debuted in 1963, followed by the iconic Honda Civic in 1972, which gained immense popularity during the 1973 oil crisis. The company's expansion continued with the launch of the luxury Acura brand in North America in 1986, the opening of its first transplant factory in Marysville, Ohio, and its ascension to the Fortune Global 500.

Products and services

The company's core business segments are automobiles, motorcycles, and power products. Its automotive lineup ranges from fuel-efficient compact cars like the Honda Fit and Honda Civic to minivans such as the Odyssey and popular sport utility vehicles including the Honda CR-V and Honda Pilot. The premium Acura division offers models like the Acura TLX and Acura MDX. In motorcycles, it produces a vast array from underbone scooters and off-road motorcycles to touring bikes like the Honda Gold Wing. Power products include lawn mowers, tillers, outboard motors, and portable generators. Furthermore, it manufactures the Honda HA-420 HondaJet light business jet and has developed advanced humanoid robotics through its ASIMO project.

Corporate affairs

Headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, the company is a constituent of the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX stock indices. Its global operations are divided into six regional entities: North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia and Oceania, and Japan. Key manufacturing plants outside Japan include facilities in Lincoln, Alabama, Greensburg, Indiana, Alliston, Ontario, Swindon, and Guangzhou. The company maintains significant research and development centers in Tochigi Prefecture, Ohio, and Germany. It fosters a unique corporate philosophy emphasizing respect for the individual and the "Three Joys" of buying, selling, and creating. The Honda Foundation, established in 1977, promotes scientific and technological advancement.

Technology and innovation

The company is renowned for pioneering clean and efficient engine technologies. It introduced the Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion (CVCC) engine in the 1970s, meeting stringent U.S. Clean Air Act standards without a catalytic converter. A leader in variable valve timing, its VTEC system revolutionized performance and efficiency. It has been a global proponent of hybrid electric vehicle technology, with the Honda Insight being the first hybrid sold in North America. Current focus areas include the development of fuel cell electric vehicles like the Honda Clarity, advancements in solid-state battery technology, and Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver-assistance systems. Its Honda Aircraft Company subsidiary continues to innovate in general aviation with the HondaJet.

Motorsports

The company has an illustrious and successful history in global motorsport, competing at the highest levels. In Formula One, its engines powered the dominant McLaren team, with drivers including Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, to consecutive Constructors' Championship titles in the late 1980s. It returned as a full works team in the 2000s, achieving victories with drivers like Jenson Button. In American open-wheel car racing, it has been a long-time engine supplier in the IndyCar Series, winning multiple Indianapolis 500 races. The company has also achieved immense success in motorcycle racing, with numerous premier-class championships in Grand Prix motorcycle racing (MotoGP) and legendary victories in the Isle of Man TT, Dakar Rally, and Motocross World Championship.

Category:Japanese brands Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers of Japan Category:Motorcycle manufacturers