A Quick History - Honda

Today, Honda is the 7^th largest automobile manufacturer in the world. In 2001, they passed Nissan to be the second largest in Japan and in 2008, passed Chrysler to be fourth in the United States. Honda is also known for making garden equipment, marine engines, personal watercraft, power generators, robotics, and more.

Honda Logo

Soichiro Honda had always loved vehicles. Early on, he worked in a garage. In 1937, he founded Tokai Seiki out of the garage to make piston rings. However, the quality was poor and he quickly lost the contact he had with Toyota. In an effort to improve the quality, Honda attended engineering school (but didn't graduate) and visited factories to understand quality control processes. By 1941, he was able to mass produce piston rings that Toyota did accept.

Soichiro Honda

The start of World War II put Tokai Seiki under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Toyota took a 40% stake in the company. Throughout the war, Honda would help other companies produce military aircraft propellers and these relationships would prove invaluable in the coming years. However, one Tokai Seiki plant was completely destroyed by a bombing run in 1944 and another in 1945, due to an earthquake. Honda sold the remains of his company to Toyota and would go on to use this money to fund the Honda Technical Research Institute.

Honda Type A

With only 12 men, Honda began selling motorized bicycles, equipped with war surplus engines. When the engines ran out, Honda produced the Model A or Bata Bata, as it was nicknamed due to the sound it made. The first motorcycle completely made by Honda was the 1949 Model D or “Dream”. In only a few short years, Honda would go on to become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world.

Honda T360

In 1963, the company introduced their first truck, the T360 mini pick up truck. Their first car was just

months after with the S500 Sports Car. In 1986, Honda would release their luxury brand, Acura. 

2012 Honda Civic - Click to see!

 Sources: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda; Honda, http://world.honda.com/history/limitlessdreams/atype/index.html; Influx, http://www.influx.co.uk/wordpress/features/soichiro-honda/#sthash.NcCvJwzf.dpbs;