Honda

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded in October 1946 by Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa in Hamamatsu, Japan, with formal incorporation on September 24, 1948. Starting with just 34 employees and 1 million yen in capital, the company launched its first product, the Dream D-Type motorcycle, in 1949. Within a decade, Honda became the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer, a position it still holds today. The Honda Super Cub C100, introduced in 1958, became the most produced motor vehicle in history, surpassing 100 million units by 2017.

Honda entered the automobile market in 1963 with the T360 mini truck and S500 sports car. The Civic (1972) and Accord (1976) became landmark models, establishing Honda's reputation for reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles. In 1986, Honda became the first Japanese automaker to launch a dedicated luxury brand, Acura. The company also produces power equipment, marine engines, and robotics, including the ASIMO humanoid robot unveiled in 2000. In aerospace, Honda developed the HondaJet, which entered production in 2012, and co-founded GE Honda Aero Engines in 2004.

As of 2025, Honda employs over 194,000 people globally and operates 33 production plants across 22 countries. The company's global brand slogan, The Power of Dreams, was established in 2001 and redefined in 2023. Honda is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TYO: 7267) and New York Stock Exchange (HMC). Toshihiro Mibe has served as chairman, president, and CEO since June 2021. [edit]