84 Facts About Honda

Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a production of 400 million by the end of 2019, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year.

In 2015, Honda was the eighth largest automobile manufacturer in the world.

Honda was the first Japanese automobile manufacturer to release a dedicated luxury brand, Acura, in 1986.

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.

Honda worked as a mechanic at the Art Shokai garage, where he tuned cars and entered them in races.

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In 1937, with financing from his acquaintance Kato Shichiro, Honda founded Tokai Seiki to make piston rings working out of the Art Shokai garage.

Honda aided the war effort by assisting other companies in automating the production of military aircraft propellers.

The relationships Honda cultivated with personnel at Toyota, Nakajima Aircraft Company and the Imperial Japanese Navy would be instrumental in the postwar period.

Soichiro Honda sold the salvageable remains of the company to Toyota after the war for ¥450, 000 and used the proceeds to found the Honda Technical Research Institute in October 1946.

At about the same time Honda hired engineer Kihachiro Kawashima, and Takeo Fujisawa who provided indispensable business and marketing expertise to complement Soichiro Honda's technical bent.

In 1961, Honda achieved its first Grand Prix victories and World Championships in the 125cc and 250cc categories.

The first production automobile from Honda was the T360 mini pick-up truck, which went on sale in August 1963.

The second production car from Honda was the S500 sports car, which followed the T360 into production in October 1963.

In 1986, Honda introduced the successful Acura brand to the American market in an attempt to gain ground in the luxury vehicle market.

Irimajiri and Kawamoto shared a friendly rivalry within Honda; owing to health issues, Irimajiri would resign in 1992.

Japanese media reported in 1992 and 1993 that Honda was at serious risk of an unwanted and hostile takeover by Mitsubishi Motors, which at the time was a larger automaker by volume and was flush with profits from its successful Pajero and Diamante models.

The most shocking change to Honda came when Kawamoto ended the company's successful participation in Formula One after the 1992 season, citing costs in light of the takeover threat from Mitsubishi as well as the desire to create a more environmentally friendly company image.

On February 23rd, 2015, Honda announced that CEO and President Takanobu Ito would step down and be replaced by Takahiro Hachigo in June of that year; additional retirements by senior managers and directors were expected.

In October 2019, Honda was reported to be in talks with Hitachi to merge the two companies' car parts businesses, creating a components supplier with almost $17 billion in annual sales.

In January 2020, Honda announced that it would be withdrawing employees working in the city of Wuhan, Hubei, China due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 23, 2020 due to the global spread of the virus, Honda became the first major automaker with operations in the US to suspend production in its factories.

In March 2022, Honda announced it would develop and build electric vehicles in a joint venture with Sony.

The latter is set to provide its imaging, sensing, network and other technologies while Honda would be responsible for the car manufacturing processes.

Honda's shares traded at over $32 per share, and its market capitalization was valued at US$50.

In 1965, Honda built a two-door commercial delivery van, named the Honda L700.

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Honda Life represented Honda's efforts in competing in the kei car segment, offering sedan, delivery van and small pick-up platforms on a shared chassis.

Honda installed new technologies into their products, first as optional equipment, then later standard, like anti-lock brakes, speed-sensitive power steering, and multi-port fuel injection in the early 1980s.

The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded.

Honda produces a Civic hybrid, a hybrid electric vehicle that competes with the Toyota Prius, and produces the Insight and CR-Z.

In 2008, Honda increased global production to meet the demand for small cars and hybrids in the U S and emerging markets.

Honda shuffled U S production to keep factories busy and boost car output while building fewer minivans and sport utility vehicles as light truck sales fell.

Honda is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Japan and has been since it started production in 1955.

At its peak in 1982, Honda manufactured almost three million motorcycles annually.

The report concluded that the Japanese firms, including Honda, had sought a very high scale of production in order to benefit from economies of scale and learning curve effects.

For example, the high power-to-weight ratio engines Honda produced for its racing bikes provided technology and expertise which was transferable into mopeds.

Honda engines powered the entire 33-car starting field of the 2010 Indianapolis 500 and for the fifth consecutive race, there were no engine-related retirements during the running of the Memorial Day Classic.

Honda, despite being known as an engine company, has never built a V8 engine for passenger vehicles.

Honda has built a downhill racing bicycle known as the Honda RN-01.

Honda has hired several people to pilot the bike, among them Greg Minnaar.

Honda announced in the end of October 2013 that Honda Soltec would cease business operations in the Spring of 2014 except for support for existing customers and the subsidiary would be dissolved.

Honda has been active in motorsports, like Formula One, MotoGP and others.

Honda entered Formula One for the first time in 1964, just one year after starting the production of road cars, making both engine and chassis.

Honda achieved their first victory at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix, and another win at the 1967 Italian Grand Prix, before they withdrew after the 1968 season.

Honda left Formula One after 2021 to focus its resources on carbon neutral technologies.

Honda debuted in the CART IndyCar World Series as an engine supplier in 1994, and the company won six consecutive Drivers' Championships and four Manufacturers' Championships between 1996 and 2001.

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In 2004, Honda won the Indianapolis 500 for the first time and claimed the Drivers' and Manufacturers' Championships, a feat which it repeated in 2005.

From 2006 to 2011, Honda was the series' lone manufacturer, before manufacturer competition returned for 2012.

In Formula Two, Honda engines dominated the premier series in 1966 and scored multiple titles in the early 1980s.

In sports car racing, Honda won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995 in the GT2 class, and in 2010 and 2012 they won in the LMP2 category.

Honda made their factory debut in the Super GT Series in 1997, and in 2000 they won their first championships.

Honda entered the World Touring Car Championship in late 2012, and in 2013 they won the Manufacturers' World Championship.

Honda combines participation in motorcycle races throughout the world with the development of high-potential racing machines.

Soichiro Honda, being a race driver himself, could not stay out of international motorsport.

In 1959, Honda entered five motorcycles into the Isle of Man TT race, the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world.

In 1979, Honda returned to Grand Prix motorcycle racing with the monocoque-framed, four-stroke NR500.

Unfortunately, it seemed Honda tried to accomplish too much at one time and the experiment failed.

Since then, Honda has become a dominant marque in motorcycle Grand Prix racing, winning a plethora of top-level titles with riders such as Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi.

Outright lap record on the Snaefell Mountain Course was held by Honda, set at the 2015 TT by John McGuinness at an average speed of 132.

In motorcycle trials, Honda has claimed three world championships with Belgian rider Eddy Lejeune.

In June 2015, Honda announced its decision to phase out the commercialization of natural-gas powered vehicles to focus on the development of a new generation of electrified vehicles such as hybrids, plug-in electric cars and hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles.

Since 2008, Honda has sold about 16, 000 natural-gas vehicles, mainly to taxi and commercial fleets.

In July 2009, Honda launched in the Brazilian market its third flexible-fuel car, the Honda City.

In March 2009, Honda launched in the Brazilian market the first flex-fuel motorcycle in the world.

In late 1999, Honda launched the first commercial hybrid electric car sold in the U S market, the Honda Insight, just one month before the introduction of the Toyota Prius, and initially sold for US$20, 000.

Honda introduced the second-generation Insight in Japan in February 2009, and released it in other markets through 2009 and in the U S market in April 2009.

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Since 2002, Honda has been selling the Honda Civic Hybrid in the U S market.

Sales of the Honda CR-Z began in Japan in February 2010, becoming Honda's third hybrid electric car in the market.

In Takanezawa, Japan, on 16 June 2008, Honda Motors produced the first assembly-line FCX Clarity, a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

In July 2014 Honda announced the end of production of the Honda FCX Clarity for the 2015 model.

In July 2014 Honda announced the end of production of the Fit EV for the 2015 model.

The establishment of Honda Verno coincided with its new sports compact, the Honda Prelude.

Honda sells genuine accessories through a separate retail chain called Honda Access for both their motorcycle, scooter, and automobile products.

In cooperation with corporate group partner Pioneer, Honda sells an aftermarket line of audio and in-car navigation equipment that can be installed in any vehicle under the brand name Gathers, which is available at Honda Access locations as well as Japanese auto parts retailers, such as Autobacs.

In 2003, Honda released its Cog advertisement in the UK and on the Internet.

The advertisement depicted a single cog which sets off a chain of events that ends with the Honda Accord moving and Garrison Keillor speaking the tagline, "Isn't it nice when things just.

In December 2005, Honda released The Impossible Dream a two-minute panoramic advertisement filmed in New Zealand, Japan, and Argentina which illustrates the founder's dream to build performance vehicles.

In 2006, Honda released its Choir advertisement, for the UK and the internet.

The casual-looking man talked about various deals offered by Honda and ended with the phrase "I'm Mr Opportunity, and I'm knockin'", followed by him "knocking" on the television screen or "thumping" the speaker at the end of radio ads.

Honda sponsored ITV's coverage of Formula One in the UK for 2007.

The campaign highlights the lengths that Honda engineers go to in order to get the most out of an engine, whether it is for bikes, cars, powerboats – even lawnmowers.

In 2009, American Honda released the Dream the Impossible documentary series, a collection of 5- to 8-minute web vignettes that focus on the core philosophies of Honda.

Late F1 driver Ayrton Senna stated that Honda probably played the most significant role in his three world championships.

Honda sponsors The Honda Classic golf tournament and is a sponsor of Major League Soccer.

Honda has been a presenting sponsor of the Los Angeles Marathon since 2010 in a three-year sponsorship deal, with winners of the LA Marathon receiving a free Honda Accord.