The Honda Motor Company is one of the biggest conglomerates in Japan. Created in 1948 by Soichiro Honda, the car manufacturer started as a humble enterprise only to become one of the most successful carmakers in the world. With vehicles such as the Acura NSX and the S2000, Honda has been at the forefront of Japanese-made sports car production.
The general public is usually unaware of the real scope of a given conglomerate's operations. Honda, for example, is one of the largest exporters of soybeans in the world. The previous claim is the evidence that most car fans out there do not know as much as they think they do.
10 Bicycle Maker
Honda is well-known for its superbikes and wide range of cars. Throughout the years, vehicles such as the CBR or the S2000 have cemented Honda's reputation as a respectable car and motorcycle manufacturer. However, Honda also produces another means of transformation that most people are not aware of.
That's right, Honda also produces bicycles. Motorized bicycles, to be precise. As bicycles are one of the most practical means of transportation in several Asian countries, Honda made sure to produce a type of vehicle that is both affordable and useful in an urban setting. Though Honda bicycles are not very popular in the US, they might end up entering the market in the near future.
9 First Ever
When people hear the name "Honda", they automatically think about the Civic. Being one of the most popular cars manufactured by the Japanese brand, it is quite normal that this is what comes up first. The very first mass-marketed Honda is, as you may have understood by now, not the Honda Civic.
The 1964 Honda S600 is the very first mass-marketed Honda. Available as a convertible and coupe, it is very clear to see that the S2000 was greatly inspired by the S600. The inline 4-cylinder engine produces a meager 57hp. However, given how light the car is, it is still a decent amount of power.
8 Opportunistic
The infamous Honda Civic is one of the most affordable and reliable car currently on the market. Having gone through decades of development, the very first Honda Civic looks nothing like the latest Civic Type-R. If the Type-R was released in 1973, it could have been a complete bust.
The original Civic was released during the 1970s oil crisis. While American car manufacturers were focusing their attention on big V8s, Japanese car manufacturers were one step ahead, and realized that filling up the tank of a gas guzzler during an oil crisis may not be the easiest thing to do. While Ford released its 1973 Mustang Mach 1 equipped with a 5.8L V8, Honda intelligently positioned its 1.3L 4-cylinder Civic the same year. The rest is history.
7 Master Of Engines
Over the years, Honda has developed engines for every budget. From the small engines found on the Honda Civic to the more powerful ones found on the S2000, Honda's Research and Development Department has put some serious efforts into producing some long-lasting and cheap to maintain engines.
With about 14 million engines produced per year, Honda wins the title of the highest producer of engines in the world. The above picture of Honda's lawnmowers proves that Honda's engines are not just found in everyday cars. They are actually installed in a myriad of vehicles and equipment.
6 Four-Wheel-Steering
It is commonly believed that the European and American automobile industries release all of the cutting-edge technology. Although airbags, seat belts, ABS, and other car components that revolutionized the industry tend to come from Western carmakers, Japanese car manufacturers found ways to change the market by installing some of these "optional accessories" on their base models.
The 1988 Honda Prelude was the very first car sold in the US with four-wheel-steering. Stock. Though the Prelude is not a sports car by definition, it was still considered as a car that packs some punch when it was first released. The success of the 1988 Prelude led Honda to release more versions of the car. Thanks to great aesthetics and mechanical features, the Prelude became one of the most appreciated cars in the JDM scene.
5 Made In USA
When people think of American cars, they principally think about over-sized, V8 powered, chromed-out land yachts. In fact, when cars with smaller engines were released by American car manufacturers, the public just was not receptive. It just did not seem right. Some perfect examples are the Chevrolet Volt or the Dodge Neon. Abject failures.
Honda, though originating from Japan, produces some of its cars in the US. The very first American Honda was the 1982 Accord. The Japanese carmaker was the very first foreign car company to produce its vehicles in the US. Located in Marysville, OH, the very first Honda plant helped revive the city's economy.
4 Japanese Luxury
Following the introduction and the success of the Civic in Western markets, Honda kept on releasing cars that satisfied customers' needs. Similarly to other carmakers, Honda witnessed a tremendous increase in revenue and figured that targeting other market segments became a necessity.
Willing to compete with BMW, Mercedes, and Cadillac, Honda came up with Acura. The luxury branch of Honda released its first car in the US market in 1986. It was the very first time a Japanese carmaker made luxury cars. Today, Acura is a serious contender to car brands such as Audi, Volkswagen, and Lexus.
3 A Million Miles
The success of Honda is partly due to its cars' affordability. Affordability is a major aspect when purchasing, however, reliability is another major decisive factor. Japanese cars are known for being extremely reliable, which greatly contributed to their international success.
Several Honda vehicles have reached the 1 million mile bar with the original engine and transmission. Most American cars produced in the 1990s could barely reach the 500,000-mile mark. Joe Cicero from Maine reached the million with his 1997 Accord, and was given a brand-new Accord by Honda. Taking good care of your Honda may pay off in the long run.
2 Diversification Is Key
Huge conglomerates tend to diversify their portfolio when the time is right. Google, for example, as invested in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Similarly to Google, Honda noticed the evolution of market trends. As problems arise, conglomerates must find solutions they capitalize on.
Honda Soltec has developed its own thin-film solar panels. In a market dominated by Chinese companies, Honda must have come up with a more advanced panel in order to gain some serious market shares. Honda is also a major exporter of soybeans. As weird as it may sound, Honda has been exporting soybeans from the US to Japan where the demand is quite high.
1 Fly High
There are two kinds of people in the world: rich and poor. The super-rich owns yachts, luxury cars with drivers, and private mansions about everywhere and anywhere. Japan, thanks to its numerous successful industries, has seen its fair share of millionaires and billionaires over the past 100 years.
Honda is fully aware of the world's dynamics. Despite Western economies shrinking, a plethora of developing countries are seeing a new wave of millionaires and billionaires. As a result, Honda has started manufacturing private jets. Though not as luxurious as the Embracer Legacy 500 or the Gulfstream G500, Honda's private jets are perfect for the nouveaux riches looking to differentiate themselves from the general public.
August 30, 2020 at 09:30PM
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10 Things You Definitely Didn't Know About Honda | HotCars - HotCars
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