Honda Car Manufacturers

The origins of the modern Honda Motor Company trace back to 1946 with the founding of the Honda Technical Research Institute by Soichiro Honda in Japan. In 1948 the Honda Motor Company Ltd. was established to produce motorcycles and scooters. In 1960 Honda began producing cars, primarily for the Japanese market, and by the 1970s Honda had become the top producer of motorcycles in the world.

Early on, Honda's small cars, while popular in Japan, were a hard sell in the U.S. It wasn't until 1972, with the introduction of the Civic, that Honda started to gain popularity with the American buying public. The Civic's CVCC (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion) engine was the first engine to pass Low-Emissions Vehicle standards without a catalytic converter during the energy crisis that hit the United States during the 1970s. With the introduction of the Accord in 1976, Honda further solidified its position as a top producer of reliable fuel-efficient vehicles that didn't sacrifice fun for functionality.

Honda introduced its variable valve timing system, VTEC, in 1989; the technology offered greater efficiency and performance across a variety of engines and has subsequently become much emulated by other automakers. Other innovations include the Honda Insight, which became the first gas and electric hybrid car produced in the United States in 1999, and the Honda FCX, which had the distinction of being the first fuel-cell vehicle to earn certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2002.

Today Honda continues to build on its reputation for well-designed vehicles offering value, strong fuel economy and outstanding safety records--a reputation enhanced by the automaker's numerous awards. Kelley Blue Book awarded Honda with its 2009 Best Resale Value Award in the automotive brand category. The Accord, available as a midsize coupe or a family-oriented sedan, has won numerous awards, including being named on Car and Driver's 10 Best Car list 23 times. The Accord Sedan has been recognized as the "Top Safety Pick" for 2008 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), as well as receiving the highest safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Founded

Hamamatsu, Japan (October 1946, incorporated 24 September 1948)

Headquarters

Minato, Tokyo, Japan

Founder

Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa

Website

http://www.honda.com

The Civic is available as a coupe, sedan, hybrid sedan or the near zero-emission natural gas-powered GX. The Civic GX has been named "America's Greenest Car" for five consecutive years by the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy. The Honda FCX Clarity is zero-emission hydrogen-powered fuel-cell sedan that emits only water vapor into the air. Rounding out Honda's passenger cars is the S2000, a fun roadster comparable to a Mazda MX-5 Miata, and the Honda Fit, named as part of Car and Driver's "Top 10 Urban Vehicles for 2008." The Honda Odyssey is Car and Driver's 2008 "Best Van", as well as being recognized for its outstanding safety features by both the IIHS and NHTSA. In the SUV category, Honda offers, from smallest to largest, the boxy Element, the compact CR-V, the mid-sized Pilot, and the Ridgeline truck.