Honda Motor Company: Our History | Honda (2023)

Transport yourself to any year since our founding and you’ll find Honda associates with their gazes fixed on the future. We’ve never been afraid to take huge chances on tomorrow, and we’ll never stop daring to dream bigger.

What will transportation look like in 2088? Our associates are currently imagining the answers to this question, working to create tomorrow’s smarter, more mobile world.

Honda is creating new products that improve the lives of people while protecting and preserving our environment. By 2050, the company aims to cut in half CO2 emissions from its products and business operations, including its production plants, in order to address greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change.

Honda views electric vehicle as the key to a sustainable, ultra-low emissions mobility future. The Clarity series of electrified products are at the forefront of Honda’s drive toward the electrification of its products. By 2030, the company aim to have three-quarters of all the cars that it sells globally be electrified vehicles in one form or another – hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric or fuel cell.

We’re currently working toward this crucial goal. It’s all part of our mission to ensure Blue Skies for Our Children, protecting the Earth for future generations.

"We're not thinking just about today or tomorrow, but preparing for the next 50 years of mobility, and we continue to think about how we can advance all stages of human mobility: walking, riding, driving and flying."

—Frank Paluch, President of Honda R&D Americas, Inc.

With the goal of a carbon-free future in mind, we created the Honda SmartCharge^TM beta program, the most advanced technology of its kind in the auto industry. Available to Honda Fit EV owners, the program empowers drivers to save money while reducing their environmental footprint when charging––on their time.

The 2018 Honda Accord, the 10th generation of America's most popular car, earned the prestigious 2018 North American Car of the Year award. Accord was the first model from a Japanese automaker to be made in America, beginning in November 1982 in Marysville, Ohio, with cumulative U.S. production of Accord exceeding 11 million vehicles over more than 35 years.

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline, the second generation of Honda's innovative, one-of-a-kind pickup truck with innovations such as the In-Bed Trunk and world's first Truck Bed Audio System was chosen by a panel of expert automotive journalists as the 2017 North America Truck of the Year.

In April 2017, Honda showed for the first time all three vehicles in its Clarity series – the Clarity Fuel Cell Vehicle, Clarity Electric and Clarity Plug-In Hybrid – pointing the way toward a cleaner and greener automotive future. The Clarity is the world’s first vehicle with three different electrified powertrains, offering drivers the advantages of a comprehensively-equipped, five-passenger sedan with advanced design and a range of low-emissions vehicle choices.

The 2016 Honda Civic is selected as the North American Car of the Year by a panel of automotive journalists. This marks the second time a Civic has earned the honor – joining the 2006 Civic.

As part of its vision to create a more sustainable mobility future, Honda introduced the Clarity Fuel Cell to customers in California in late 2016. Representing the leading edge of zero-emissions vehicle technology, the hydrogen-powered Clarity can travel up to 366 miles on a single tank of fuel, can be fully refueled in three to five minutes, and emits only water vapor.

We set up shop in Silicon Valley over 15 years ago, and expanded our facility in the heart of Mountain View, CA. Honda developers partner with entrepreneurial technologists to dream up tomorrow’s transportation experiences advancing connectivity, telematics, safety, autonomous driving and more.

We are honored to name Audrey Stradford the first-ever recipient of The Power of Dreams Award, commending her 40 years of exceptional service as a faculty member and volunteer at Tennessee State University.

“The moment had come to start work on realizing another dream. Trying to win Formula 1 was for many trying to accomplish the impossible. But my decision was made, once and for all. I would have to put in the necessary time, but nothing could stop me from succeeding.”

—Soichiro Honda, Founder

The giant awakens. In partnership with McLaren, we return to our racing roots for the 2015 FIA Formula 1 (F1) World Championship. Dreams of racing glory have always been integral to our company, and we continue to thrive on the raw competition of the track.

The highly anticipated HondaJet achieves type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration and enters into service. First customer deliveries begin just two weeks later.

It’s what car lovers live for. The unveiling of the powerful, strikingly beautiful Acura NSX supercar causes a sensation in the automotive world. Keep your eyes peeled for this stunning vehicle on a road near you.

Honda Transmission Mfg. of America fires up its brand-new wind turbines in Russells Point, Ohio. Honda is the first major automotive manufacturing facility in the U.S. to get a substantial amount of its electricity from onsite wind turbines.

“Everything starts with an idea or a dream or a thought. What goes on from there, where we take it — that’s really what the Power of Dreams represents.”

— Steve Morikawa, VP, Corporate Community Relations

On March 20, the 10-millionth Honda Accord built in North America rolls off the assembly line at our Marysville Auto Plant as Honda celebrates a total U.S. production of 20 million Honda and Acura automobiles.

ASIMO always has a new trick to show off. Demonstrating an ever-growing repertoire, ASIMO meets President Obama and shows off his running, jumping and soccer skills.

How time flies. This year (on June 11, to be exact) American Honda Motor Co., Inc. marks its 50th year of U.S. operations. From our first U.S. store in Los Angeles with six industrious employees, Honda continues to rise to astounding heights, all thanks to the dreams and dedication of our associates.

Honda breaks new ground introducing the 2009 FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle. With a new, more compact fuel cell stack, Clarity is the world’s first fuel cell sedan capable of comfortably carrying four occupants.

Honda Manufacturing of Indiana begins producing the Civic Sedan. Honda R&D Americas opens its Marine Engine Research Facility in Florida, and Honda Aero begins construction on its North Carolina headquarters.

"Without racing the automobile would not get better. Head-to-head competition in front of a crowd is the way to become number one in the world."

—Soichiro Honda, Founder

Acura enters the American Le Mans Series. In its debut race at the 12 hours of Sebring, Acura wins 1st, 2nd and 4th place in the LMP2 class. These early successes inform future development of their vehicles and continued Le Mans class victories.

Honda R&D Americas opens its third design studio in California for the research and styling of future Acura production models.

The 2006 Honda Civic and 2006 Honda Ridgeline Truck sweep the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards as selected by a panel of automotive journalists in North America.

“Non conformity is essential to an artist or inventor.”

—Soichiro Honda, Founder

ASIMO, which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, is one of our forays into advanced humanoid robot design. Conceived to aid those with limited mobility, ASIMO will go on to become one of the most popular Honda public-facing personalities.

“The value of life can be measured by how many times your soul has been deeply stirred.”

—Soichiro Honda, Founder

In December, the Honda Insight drives through uncharted territory to become the first hybrid vehicle available in North America. It remains the most fuel-efficient, non-plugin vehicle in its class for the next 17 years.

Acura takes a game-changing step into the supercar arena with the NSX. The first production car with an all-aluminum monocoque body, the NSX is an instant classic and will remain a sought-after vehicle for connoisseurs.

Honda launches Acura, the first luxury nameplate from a Japanese automaker, with sales of “precision crafted performance.” With its initial 60 U.S. Acura dealers, Acura goes on to earn four consecutive JD Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) awards.

Honda Power Equipment Mfg., Inc. introduces walk-behind Honda lawnmowers at a new plant in Swepsonville, North Carolina. Today, a Honda mower from North Carolina has been selected as the top-rated self-propelled, gas-powered lawn mower by a “leading consumer publication” for more than decade.

This year marks a big milestone in our commitment to supporting the communities where we work and live. The American Honda Foundation will go on to award over $32 million to organizations in every state in the U.S.

Our first Accord may be a humble hatchback, but it is a big hit. This initial model will be followed by an Accord Sedan in 1979. From its launch until today, Accord is the best-selling passenger car in America, with American car buyers purchasing over 12.5 million.

Driven by the rallying cry of “Blue skies for our children” Honda engineers create a groundbreaking CVCC engine that makes the Honda Civic the first vehicle to meet the strict emissions standards of the new U.S. Clean Air Act without the use of a catalytic converter.

Honda introduces the world’s first fuel-efficient 4-stroke outboard marine engines, which are cleaner, quieter and more economical than comparable 2-stroke engines. And we’re still helping people have fun out on the water.

“What will happen to our streams, lakes and rivers if all that exhaust gas mixed with oil gets pumped into the water? I don’t care if everyone else is making two-strokes, Honda has to make four strokes.”

—Soichiro Honda, Founder

Minibikes can transform lives. The National Youth Project Using Minibikes is an innovative program using minibikes to make positive changes in the lives of disadvantaged youths through fun activities and positive influence.

The Honda N600 is the first automobile we ever sold in America.

The introduction of the 4-cylinder Honda CB750 brings a new level of sophistication to mainstream motorcycles. In naming it “Motorcycle of the Century” in 2012, a leading industry publication called the CB750 the bike that changed everything.

In less than a decade, Honda manages to change the face of motorcycle design and engineering. And we never stop leading the way.

On June 11, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is established in Los Angeles, California, as the first overseas subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is established with co-founders Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa and introduces (in 1949) its first original designed and engineered product which Mr. Honda appropriately names the “Dream” D-type motorcycle.

"We have consistently chosen a most difficult path filled with hardships. We must possess the will to challenge difficulties and the wisdom to create new values without being bound by established standards. We do not wish to imitate others."

—Soichiro Honda, Founder