Honda cars and motorcyles
Honda is a Japanese multinational corporation popularly known for their quality automobiles including motorcycles. Since 1959, it has been the world’s biggest manufacturer of motorcycle and internal combustion engines. Honda topped Nissan in 2001 as the second largest automobile manufacturer. In August 2008, by topping Chrysler, Honda became the fourth biggest automobile company in the United States. Today, Honda is the sixth biggest automobile in the world.
Apart from their core motorcycle and automobile businesses Honda also produces marine engines, garden equipment, power generators, and personal watercraft. In addition, the company ventures into artificial intelligence\robotics research released in 2000; they also established aero engines in 2004, and quite recently Honda jet which is expected to be released in 2011. They spent about 5% of their income in Research & Development. This multinational corporation was founded by Soichiro Honda, a self-taught engineer.
The headquarters of Honda is in Minato, Tokyo, Japan but it has its assembly plants across the globe. These plants are located in the United States, China, Pakistan, England, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Belgium, New Zealand, India, Indonesia, Turkey, Thailand, and Peru.
Honda Brands to Choose From
Honda’s global lineup involves the fit, Accord, Civic, Insight, Odyssey and CR-V. These Honda selections vary from country to country. To cite few examples, the latest Ridgeline and Acura TL luxury sedan were both engineered in North America and are majorly produced and sold there.
The Honda Civic is a very small car manufactured and developed by Honda. In North America, it is the second-largest continuously running nameplate coming from a Japanese manufacturer; Toyota corolla introduced in 1968 is only its perennial rival. The civic, along with Prelude and Accord are some of the Honda’s cars marketed up to 1990 when the model line was increased in North America. Having passed several generational changes, the civic has become more up market and larger and presently it slots between the Accord and Fit.
In September 2008, Honda increased its global production so as to meet its demand for small cars in emerging markets and the United States. This manufacturing company is trying to boost car output and keep factories busy, while building sport utility vehicles and fewer minivans as light truck sales decline.
In 2006, when it was introduced in the pickup segment, the Ridgeline won the ‘Truck of the Year’ from motor trend magazine. Also in the same year, the redesigned civic also won ‘Car of the Year’ from the same magazine, giving Honda a rare dual wins of motor trend honors.
It is estimated that Honda plans to expand hybrid sales in Japan to over 20% of its overall sales in fiscal year 2011, starting from 14.8% last year.
According to an honest attestation from Five of United states Environmental protection agency, from 1984 to 2010, all the top ten most fuel-efficient vehicles came from Honda. The 5 models are: Honda Civic Coupe HF 1986-1987, Honda Insight 2000-2006, Honda Civic Hatchback VX 1994-1995, Honda Civic Hybrid 2006, and 2010 Honda Insight.
Also see: Honda sells more than just Cars.
Honda sells more than just Cars
There are many other types of motor powered devices that Honda sells, other than cars. In this article, we will take a look at some of the other things Honda has its name on.
Motorsports
Honda has also been active in motorsports, for example superbike racing, motorcycle grand prix and others.
Alternative and Electric Vehicles
Honda over the years has manufactured flexible fuel, compressed natural gas, hydrogen fuel cells and hybrid electric vehicles.
Flexible Fuel
In late 2006, Honda’s Brazilian subsidiary Moto Honda da Amazonia released flexible fuel versions for the Honda fit and Honda civic. By March 2009, it launched again the first flex-fuel motorcycle, produced by same Brazilian subsidiary.
Compressed Natural Gas
The Honda Civic GX is recognized as the only accredited-built natural gas vehicle (NGV). It hit the market in 1998; this car looks like the present Honda Civic LX, but cannot run on gasoline. In 2001, the U.S. environmental protection agency rated Honda Civic GX the vehicle with finest-burning internal combustion engine.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
In 2008, Honda manufactured a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, FCX clarity. This car combines oxygen and hydrogen from ordinary air to produce electricity for an electric motor. It is more efficient than gas-electric vehicle.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
In the 2009, Honda commercialized the first hybrid electric vehicle sold in the U.S market (the Honda insight); just a month before Toyota Prius was introduced. Initially, it was sold for $20,000 US. It recorded total global sales of 18,000 vehicles.
Besides the fabrication of cars, Honda is also producing other types of automotives. Below are some of them.
Motorcycle
Ever since its existence in 1955, Honda has been the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Japan. At its zenith in 1982, Honda produced about 3 million motorcycles yearly. But this figure declined in 2006 to about 550,000 but was still greater than its three household competitors. It is remarkable to note that Honda’s entrance into the U.S motorcycle market in the 1960s is taking as a case study for the teaching of introductory strategy at business schools globally.
Power Equipment
Prior to motorcycle, Honda power equipment sales reached 6.4 million units in 2007, by 2010 this figure decreased to 4.7 million units and so on.
Honda Power Equipment Involve:
Tiller, engine, riding mower, lawn mower, blower, mower, sprayer, generator, hedge trimmer, outboard engine, pumps, inflatable boat etc.
Aircraft
Honda has been active, through its subsidiary, Honda Aircraft Company. It has increased fuel efficiency and aerodynamics thus minimizing operating costs.
Mountain Bikes
Honda has built a downhill racing bike popularly known as Honda RN-01. It has taken a lot of people to pilot the bike, including Greg Minnaar. Gearbox is the main feature of this bike, which substitute the quality derailleur found on some bikes.
Solar Cells
Throughout Japan, Honda Soltec (Honda’s solar cell subsidiary company) started sales of thin-film solar cells for industrial and public use on October 24, 2008. Its headquarters is at Kikuchi-gun, Kumamoto with Akia Kazusa as president and CEO. These sales came about after selling solar cells for residential usage since October 2007.
Conclusion
From the above listed brands of Honda car, you are free to choose your choicest Honda brand. They have been tested and trusted over time. Honda’s powerful slogan is ‘The power of dreams’. They don’t use this slogan while marketing their products, because according to the founder Mr. Honda well built products doesn’t need any advertisement. They will always sell themselves.