Honda
The power of dreams, built on precision and innovation.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd., commonly known as Honda, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate automotive manufacturer headquartered at the Toranomon Alcea Tower in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in October 1946 by Soichiro Honda, Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a production of 500 million. It is the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by number of units, producing more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year. Honda became the second-largest Japanese automobile manufacturer in 2001. Honda was the eighth largest automobile manufacturer in the world. Honda has built and sold the most produced motor vehicle in history, the Honda Super Cub.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Honda (Japan)
- Motogp designation
- RC213V
- Status
- Factory team, MotoGP
- Notable riders
- Doohan
- Roberts
- Pedrosa
- Marquez
- World championships
- Dozens across all classes
Lore & Background
Honda's founder, Soichiro Honda, had an interest in automobiles and worked as a mechanic at the Art Shokai garage. In 1937, he founded Tōkai Seiki to make piston rings. After initial failures, Tōkai Seiki won a contract to supply piston rings to Toyota but lost it due to poor quality. By 1941, Honda mass-produced acceptable piston rings. Tōkai Seiki was placed under government control during World War II, and Soichiro Honda was demoted from president to senior managing director after Toyota took a 40% stake. A US B-29 bomber attack destroyed the Yamashita plant in 1944, and the Itawa plant collapsed in the 1945 Mikawa earthquake. Soichiro Honda sold the remains to Toyota and used the proceeds to found the Honda Technical Research Institute in October 1946. With 12 men in a 16 m² shack, they built motorized bicycles using 500 two-stroke 50 cc Tohatsu war surplus engines. When those ran out, Honda built its own copy, the Honda A-Type. In 1949, the institute was liquidated for ¥1,000,000, and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was incorporated. Honda hired Kihachiro Kawashima and Takeo Fujisawa. The first complete motorcycle was the 1949 D-Type Dream. In 1961, Honda achieved its first Grand Prix victories and World Championships in the 125 cc and 250 cc categories. Honda became the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer by 1964. The first production automobile was the T360 mini pick-up truck in August 1963, followed by the S500 sports car in October 1963. In 1986, Honda introduced the Acura brand. The 1991 Honda NSX was the first all-aluminum monocoque vehicle with a mid-engine V6. In 1990, CEO Tadashi Kume was succeeded by Nobuhiko Kawamoto. Kawamoto ended Honda's Formula One participation after the 1992 season. The Honda Aircraft Company was established in 2006. In February 2015, Takahiro Hachigo replaced Takanobu Ito as CEO. In October 2019, Honda was in talks with Hitachi to merge car parts businesses. In January 2020, Honda withdrew employees from Wuhan due to COVID-19. On 23 March 2020, Honda suspended US production, resuming on 11 May 2020. Honda and General Motors announced a North American alliance in September 2020. In 2021, Honda announced intention to sell a vehicle with level 3 self-driving technology. In March 2022, Honda announced a joint venture with Sony to develop electric vehicles.
Reader's Guide
Honda manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, garden equipment, marine engines, personal watercraft, power generators, and other products. Since 1986, Honda has been involved with artificial intelligence/robotics research and released the ASIMO robot in 2000. It has ventured into aerospace with GE Honda Aero Engines (2004) and the Honda HA-420 HondaJet (production began 2012). Honda has four joint-ventures in China: Dongfeng Honda, GAC Honda, Wuyang Honda and Sundiro Honda. In 2013, Honda invested about 5.7% (US$6.8 billion) of its revenues into research and development. Also in 2013, Honda became the first Japanese automaker to be a net exporter from the United States, exporting 108,705 Honda and Acura models while importing only 88,357.
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