Honda Motor Company is a Japanese Multinational Conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment with its headquarters in Tokyo. Engineer Honda Soichiro set up Honda Technical Research Institute in 1946 to develop efficient engines. It was incorporated as Honda Motor Corporation in 1948 and started producing motorcycles. Later, in 1963, this company also began manufacturing automobiles. Honda also has an U.S. subsidiary, named American Honda Motor Company which was a venture in contradiction to other foreign manufacturers, i.e. depending on the distributors.
There are fairly transparent processes in car manufacturing, but some facts slip away from the mainstream data. Here are 10 interesting facts about Honda Motor Company.
1. Private Jets | Honda Motor Company
Honda, being fully aware of the world dynamics and economics, has started manufacturing private jets. The jets are moderately luxurious, thus perfect for nouveau riche who wish to stand out from the commoners. The Honda Jet is a light business jet and can accommodate up to eight people. It has received several accolades for its innovation and aeronautic design.
2. Bicycles
Honda is popular for its range of superbikes and a wide variety of cars. However, Honda also produces a vehicle that is affordable and useful in the urban setting. It produces motorized bicycles that have attached engines and transmission which are used to power the engines with pedaling. The Honda Cub F is a motorized bicycle classified as a moped that was introduced in 1952. Its production ceased in 1954 citing the consumer demands shifting to better products.
3. Diverse Products | Honda Motor Company
Honda has not only been a successful runner in the automobile industry, but it also manufactures its thin-film solar panels. It is also a major manufacturer of soybeans. It has been exporting soybeans from the US to Japan, where there is high demand. Other than that, it has also been an active manufacturer of watercraft, ATVs, mountain bikes, and lawn equipment.
4. First Car
Talking about Honda, the Civic automatically gets into the picture. As it is one of the most popular cars manufactured by Honda Motor Company, it generally comes up first. Though, the first mass-marketed Honda was not Honda Civic. Honda S600 was the first mass-marketed Honda. It was a roadster with a strong resemblance to Honda S500 and as a fastback coupe and was the first car to be available in two trim levels. It was originally only right-hand drive but soon became available in left-hand drive too, to appeal to the export markets.
5. Motor Racing | Honda Motor Company
Honda is now a well-known manufacturer in all forms of motorsports including F1, motocross, sports cars, etc. Until 1965, Honda was only a competitor in motorcycling. This changed when drivers started winning the Grand Prix as well. Later in 1982, a division of the Honda Motor Company was formed, known as Honda Racing Corporation. It develops high-potential racing machines. Since then, Honda has been competing in a variety of racing series.
6. Battery-Powered Vehicle
Between 1997-99, Honda Motor Company manufactured the first battery-powered vehicle, the EV Plus. Though this car didn’t achieve much, its basis was a development chassis for the imminent Honda FCX, Honda’s first zero-emission vehicle. This vehicle did not use lead-acid batteries and was also equipped with an oil-fired heater for a faster cabin heater. Shortly after, in 1999, the production of EV plus was discontinued after Honda announced the release of its first hybrid electric vehicle.
7. The Band
Honda motorbikes were so popular in the early 1960s that a band was created with its name. The Hondells were an American Surf band founded by legendary songwriters. Their band scored a big hit with the catchy song ‘Little Honda’. The hits also topped the US charts in the early 1960s.
8. Link with the Toyota
Before the owner, Soichiro Honda founded Honda, he owned another company named Tökai Seiki that produced car parts like piston rings. This company sold the parts to popular manufacturer Toyota. It also assisted other companies in automating the production of military aircraft propellers.
9. Luxurious Automobiles
As Honda Motor Company witnessed tremendous success in western markets, it kept on upgrading the newer versions to satisfy the customers’ needs. Willing to compete with BMW, Mercedes, etc, Honda came up with Acura. It was the first luxury branch of Honda which was released in the US market in 1986. Presently, it is a serious contender to Audi, Volkswagen, etc. It is the first Japanese automotive luxury marque.
10. Humanoid Robot | Honda Motor Company
In 2000, Honda Motor Company also created a humanoid robot known as ASIMO. ASIMO stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility. It can recognize moving objects, gestures, and the surrounding environment and can also interact with humans. Some sensors support autonomous navigation. Honda’s work with ASIMO led to further research that helped in various innovations. The company soon terminated the production in order to focus on using the robot’s technology for practical cases in nursing and transportation.
References:
- Cox Motor Parts. (2016). 10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Honda. [online] Available at: https://www.coxmotorparts.co.uk/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-honda/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2022].
- HotCars. (2020). 10 Things You Definitely Didn’t Know About Honda. [online] Available at: https://www.hotcars.com/things-definitely-didnt-know-about-honda/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2022].
- Dipannita (2017). 30 Amazing Things You Didn’t Know About Honda. [online] BOOMSbeat. Available at: https://www.boomsbeat.com/articles/278372/20170913/30-amazing-things-you-didnt-know-about-honda.htm [Accessed 14 Jan. 2022]
