Honda facts for kids
Logo used since 2000
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Headquarters in Minato, Tokyo
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Native name
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本田技研工業株式会社
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Romanized name
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Honda Giken Kōgyō Kabushiki-gaisha |
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| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | Hamamatsu, Japan (October 1946, incorporated 24 September 1948) |
| Founder | Soichiro Honda |
| Headquarters | Minami-Aoyama,
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Japan
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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| Revenue |  ¥14.95 trillion (2022) |
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Operating income
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¥871.2 billion (2022) |
| ¥707.0 billion (2022) |
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| Total assets | ¥23.97 trillion (2022) |
| Total equity | ¥10.77 trillion (2022) |
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Number of employees
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List
Transportation
Engines
Motorsport
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Honda Motor Co., Ltd., commonly known as Honda, is a big Japanese company. It makes cars, motorcycles, and many other things. Its main office is in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Soichiro Honda started the company in October 1946. Since 1959, Honda has been the world's largest maker of motorcycles. By May 2025, they had made 500 million motorcycles! They also make more internal combustion engines than anyone else, over 14 million every year.
Honda became the second-largest Japanese car maker in 2001. In 2015, it was the eighth largest car maker globally. The Honda Super Cub is the most produced motor vehicle in history.
In 1986, Honda launched Acura, its own luxury car brand in Japan. Besides cars and motorcycles, Honda makes garden tools, boat engines, and power generators. Since 1986, Honda has also worked on artificial intelligence and robotics. They released their famous ASIMO robot in 2000. Honda also builds jet aircraft through Honda Aircraft Company.
Contents
Honda's Journey: A Look at Its History
Soichiro Honda, the founder, loved cars his whole life. He started as a mechanic and raced cars. In 1937, he began a company called Tōkai Seiki to make piston rings. After some struggles, his company started making good quality piston rings for Toyota.
During World War II, his factories were damaged. After the war, Soichiro Honda sold what was left of his company to Toyota. With that money, he started the Honda Technical Research Institute in October 1946.
His first team of 12 people worked in a small shack. They made simple motorized bicycles using old war engines. When those engines ran out, Honda started making their own. This was called the Honda A-Type. In 1949, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was officially formed. Soichiro Honda teamed up with Takeo Fujisawa, who was great at business. Their partnership lasted until they both retired in 1973.
The first full motorcycle made by Honda, including the frame and engine, was the 1949 Honda D-Type, called the Dream. By 1964, Honda had become the world's biggest motorcycle maker.
Honda's first production car was the Honda T360 mini pick-up truck, released in August 1963. It was a small truck that fit into a special tax class in Japan. The Honda S500 sports car followed in October 1963. Its chain-driven rear wheels showed Honda's motorcycle roots.
Over the years, Honda grew and sold its products worldwide. In 1986, they launched the Acura brand in America for luxury cars. In 1991, they introduced the Honda NSX supercar, which was very advanced.
In the 1990s, Honda faced challenges. Its CEO, Nobuhiko Kawamoto, made big changes. He focused on popular vehicles like the Odyssey minivan and the CR-V SUV. He also stopped Honda's successful participation in Formula One racing to save money and focus on eco-friendly cars.
The Honda Aircraft Company was started in 2006 to make and sell the HondaJet aircraft. Deliveries to customers began in December 2015.
In February 2015, Takanobu Ito stepped down as CEO and was replaced by Takahiro Hachigo. In October 2019, Honda discussed merging its car parts business with Hitachi.
In January 2020, Honda pulled employees from Wuhan, China, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, they stopped car production in their US factories. Production restarted in May 2020.
In September 2020, Honda and General Motors announced a partnership in North America. They planned to share vehicles and work together on research and development.
In 2021, Honda aimed to be the first carmaker to sell a car with Level 3 self-driving technology.
In March 2022, Honda announced a joint project with Sony to build electric vehicles. This company, Sony Honda Mobility, was officially announced in October 2022. Pre-orders for their first EVs were set to open in 2025, with releases in 2026.
In February 2023, Honda announced a deal with General Motors to make cars using a new hydrogen fuel system. They want to use hydrogen cells in electric cars, trucks, and power stations.
In March 2023, Honda recalled 500,000 vehicles in the US and Canada. This was due to a problem with front seat belts not latching correctly. In December 2023, Honda recalled about 4.5 million vehicles globally for fuel pump issues.
Attempted Merger with Nissan
In December 2024, Honda announced talks to merge with Nissan. This would have created the third-largest car company by sales. Mitsubishi Motors also agreed to join the discussions. However, in February 2025, Honda and Nissan ended the merger talks. Nissan reportedly pulled out due to differences, including Honda's idea for Nissan to become a subsidiary.
Leadership at Honda
- Chairman: Toshiaki Mikoshiba (since April 2019)
- President and Chief Executive: Toshihiro Mibe (since April 2021)
How Honda Works: Divisions and Locations
Honda's main office is in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Its shares are traded on stock exchanges in Tokyo, New York, and other cities worldwide.
Honda has factories all over the world. These include plants in China, the United States, Canada, Japan, and many other countries. By 2010, most Honda and Acura cars sold in the US were built in North America.
American Honda Motor Company is based in Torrance, California. Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) handles Honda's racing activities. Honda also has joint ventures with other companies, like GAC Honda in China. Honda also runs Honda Mobilityland, which operates the Suzuka Circuit and Twin Ring Motegi racing tracks in Japan.
After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Honda reduced production at its UK plants. This was because it was hard to get parts from Japan.
What Honda Makes
Cars
Honda started making cars in 1963 with the Honda T360 mini pick-up truck. This was followed by the Honda S500 sports car. In 1969, Honda introduced its first four-door sedan, the Honda 1300.
The Honda Civic became very popular worldwide. It first appeared in 1972. The Civic, along with the Honda Accord and Prelude, were Honda's main cars in North America for a long time. Over the years, the Civic has grown larger and more upscale.
Honda was different from other Japanese carmakers. Most of its cars, like the Accord and Civic, use Front-wheel drive. Honda also added new technologies to its cars early on, like anti-lock brakes and multi-port fuel injection. They were also the first Japanese company to create a luxury car brand, Acura.
Honda's first hybrid electric vehicle was the 1999 Honda Insight. The Civic and Accord later got hybrid versions. In 2008, Honda launched the Honda Clarity, a fuel cell car that runs on hydrogen.
In 2008, Honda increased car production to meet demand for small cars and hybrids. The Honda Ridgeline pickup truck won "Truck of the Year" in 2006. The redesigned Civic won "Car of the Year" in the same year.
Many of the most fuel-efficient cars from 1984 to 2010 were Hondas. The Honda Civic GX was also named the "greenest car in America" for seven years in a row.
Motorcycles
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Honda has been the largest motorcycle maker in Japan since 1955. In 1982, Honda made almost three million motorcycles a year. By 2006, this number was about 550,000, but still more than its Japanese rivals.
India became Honda's biggest motorcycle market in 2017. Honda leads the scooter market in India with a 59% share.
In the 1960s, Honda started selling motorcycles in the United States. They used a famous slogan: "You meet the nicest people on a Honda." This helped change how people viewed motorcyclists. The campaign was very successful, and Honda sold 90,000 motorcycles by the end of 1963.
Honda's success in the US market is often studied in business schools. Some say it was due to making many motorbikes to save costs. Others say it was because Honda's team was adaptable and worked hard. For example, Honda first planned to sell large motorcycles in the US. But when their smaller scooters became popular, they focused on selling the Honda Super Cub instead.
ATVs
Honda makes ATVs for both utility and sports. Utility models include Recon and Rubicon. Sports models include TRX 90X and TRX 250X.
Power Equipment
Honda started making power equipment in 1953. This includes engines, lawn mowers, and generators. By 2007, Honda sold 6.4 million power equipment units annually. By September 2008, they had made over 85 million power products in total.
In September 2023, Honda stopped selling gasoline lawn mowers and some other power equipment in the US.
Honda power equipment includes:
- Engines
- Brush Cutters
- Tillers
- Marine Outboard Motors
- Water Pumps
- Lawn mowers
- Robotic lawn mowers
- Snowthrowers
- Generators
Engines
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Honda engines are very powerful. In 2010, every car in the 2010 Indianapolis 500 race used a Honda engine. No cars had engine problems during that race.
Honda has never built a V8 engine for passenger cars. They decided not to in the late 2000s, focusing on environmental goals instead.
Robots
ASIMO is a famous robot from Honda's research program. It is 130 centimeters tall and weighs 54 kilograms. ASIMO can walk on two feet like a human, and even climb stairs by itself. It is the only humanoid robot that can do this independently.
In 2010, Honda developed a way for people to control ASIMO with their thoughts. This system uses a helmet that reads brainwaves.
Aircraft
Honda has also developed the Honda HA-420 HondaJet. This jet is designed to reduce drag and save fuel, making it cheaper to fly.
Mountain Bikes
Honda built a special downhill racing bicycle called the Honda RN-01. It has a unique gearbox instead of a regular derailleur. This bike is not sold to the public.
Rockets
In 2019, Honda started working on rocket engines. In June 2025, they successfully tested a reusable launch vehicle in Japan. Honda aims to achieve a sub-orbital spaceflight by 2029.
Electric and Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Natural Gas Cars
Top: a Brazilian flexible-fuel vehicle.
Bottom: a US gasoline-electric hybrid.
The Honda Civic GX was a special car that ran only on compressed natural gas. It looked like a regular Civic but used a different fuel. In 2001, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) called it the cleanest-burning internal combustion engine in the world.
Honda stopped selling natural gas vehicles in June 2015. They decided to focus on electric cars, hybrids, and hydrogen cars instead.
Flexible-Fuel Cars
In Brazil, Honda launched flexible-fuel versions of the Honda Civic and Honda Fit in 2006. These cars can run on a mix of ethanol and gasoline. By early 2009, all Honda cars made for the Brazilian market were flexible-fuel.
In March 2009, Honda also introduced the world's first flexible-fuel motorcycle in Brazil, the CG 150 Titan Mix.
Hybrid Electric Cars
In late 1999, Honda launched the Honda Insight, its first commercial hybrid electric car in the US. It was very fuel-efficient. By 2007, Honda had sold 200,000 hybrids worldwide.
The second-generation Insight was released in 2009. It was one of the most affordable hybrids in the US. Honda also sells the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Honda CR-Z, a sports coupe hybrid.
By September 2012, Honda had sold over 1 million hybrids globally. By June 2014, this number was over 1.35 million.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars
In 2008, Honda started making the Honda FCX Clarity, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. This car uses hydrogen and oxygen to make electricity for its motor. It only produces heat and water, with no pollution. Honda stopped production of the FCX Clarity for the 2015 model year.
In February 2024, Honda introduced the CR-V e:FCEV in the US. This is a plug-in hybrid fuel cell version of the CR-V. It has an electric motor, hydrogen tanks, and a battery that can be charged.
Plug-in Electric Cars
The Honda EV Plus was an all-electric car introduced in 1997. It was available for leasing in California. Production ended in 1999.
The Honda Fit EV was an all-electric car launched in 2012. It had a range of about 82 miles. Production was limited, and it was phased out for the 2015 model year.
The Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid was introduced in 2013. It could go about 13 miles on electricity alone.
The Honda e was launched in 2020, a retro-styled electric car with a range of 137 miles. The Honda e:Ny1, an electric SUV, followed in 2023 with a range of 256 miles.
In April 2022, Honda and General Motors announced a plan to develop affordable electric vehicles together. However, in October 2023, they canceled this joint venture due to changing market conditions. Future Honda electric vehicles will be designed and built by Honda.
Batteries
In August 2022, Honda and LG Energy Solution announced a partnership to build a new battery factory in the United States. This factory will make lithium-ion batteries for Honda and Acura electric vehicles.
Marketing and Advertising
Marketing in Japan
In 1978, Honda in Japan started different sales channels. Honda Verno stores sold sportier cars. Later, Honda Clio (1984) sold traditional Honda cars like the Honda Accord. Honda Primo (1985) sold smaller cars like the Honda Civic, plus motorcycles and power equipment.
Each sales channel had a unique style. For example, Verno cars had their license plates on the bumper, while Primo and Clio cars had them on the trunk. By March 2006, these separate chains were combined into Honda Cars dealerships. However, some dealerships still use the old names.
Honda also sells official accessories through Honda Access. They also have a brand called Gathers for car audio and navigation systems. For used cars, Honda has special dealerships called Honda Auto Terrace.
In 2012, Honda in Japan introduced Honda Cars Small Store for compact cars and mini-vehicles.
International Marketing
In 2003, Honda released its famous Cog advertisement in the UK. It showed a chain reaction made entirely of Honda car parts. It took 100 tries to film the ad!
In 2005, Honda released The Impossible Dream. This ad showed a man riding different Honda vehicles, from a motorcycle to a hot air balloon. It highlighted the founder's dream to build amazing vehicles.
In 2006, Honda's Choir ad featured 60 people singing car noises for the Honda Civic.
In the US, Honda used an animated character called Mr. Opportunity in its ads. He talked about deals and ended with "I'm Mr. Opportunity, and I'm knockin'".
In 2009, American Honda released the Dream the Impossible documentary series. These short films explored Honda's ideas and featured famous people.
Sports Sponsorships
Honda is a big sponsor in sports. They are an official partner of the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America. They also sponsor the Anaheim Ducks NHL team and their arena, Honda Center.
Honda used to sponsor The Honda Classic golf tournament. They also sponsor Major League Soccer in the United States. The "Honda Player of the Year" award is given in US soccer. The "Honda Sports Award" goes to the best female college athlete in the US.
Honda sponsored the Spanish football club Valencia CF starting in 2014. Since 2010, Honda has been a main sponsor of the Los Angeles Marathon. Winners of the marathon receive a free Honda Accord.
Motorsports: Racing with Honda
Honda has been involved in motorsports like Formula One and MotoGP since its early days. Since 2022, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) manages all of Honda's motorsport activities. Honda also owns two race tracks in Japan: the Suzuka Circuit and Mobility Resort Motegi.
Car Racing
Honda first entered Formula One in 1964, making both engines and cars. They won their first race in 1965. They returned as an engine supplier in 1983 and dominated racing from 1986 to 1991. During this time, they won five Drivers' Championships and six Constructors' titles with teams like Williams and McLaren.
Honda returned to Formula One again from 2000 to 2008. They came back as an engine supplier in 2015. After some struggles, they started winning races again by 2019. In 2021, they won the World Drivers' Championship with Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. Honda officially left Formula One after 2021 to focus on green technologies. However, they continued to supply engines to Red Bull until 2025. Honda will officially rejoin Formula One in 2026 to provide engines to Aston Martin.
Honda also competed in the CART IndyCar World Series starting in 1994. They won many championships there. From 2006 to 2011, Honda was the only engine supplier for the IndyCar Series. Since 2012, Honda's engines have won the Indianapolis 500 several times.
In sports car racing, Honda won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995 in the GT2 class. They also won in the LMP2 category in 2010 and 2012. Honda has won many titles in the Super GT Series in Japan. Through their Acura and HPD divisions, Honda has also won many championships in sports prototype racing in the US.
Motorcycle Racing
Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) develops racing motorcycles and manages Honda's motorcycle racing. They use racing to create new technologies for Honda motorcycles.
Soichiro Honda loved racing. In 1959, Honda entered five motorcycles in the Isle of Man TT race, a very famous motorcycle race. In 1961, Honda won its first Grand Prix victories. Honda's race bikes were known for their cool designs and unique engines.
In 1979, Honda returned to Grand Prix motorcycle racing with a new four-stroke bike. In 1982, they introduced their first two-stroke race bike, the NS500. In 1983, Honda won its first 500 cc Grand Prix World Championship. Since then, Honda has been a dominant force in motorcycle Grand Prix racing, winning many titles with riders like Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi.
Honda also holds many wins at the Isle of Man TT race, with 227 victories. In motocross, Honda has won seventeen world championships. They have also won titles in World Enduro Championship and motorcycle trials.
Images for kids
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Logo used since 2000
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Headquarters in Minato, Tokyo
See also
In Spanish: Honda para niños
