Honda

Honda builds over 14 million internal combustion engines annually. This figure makes the well known company the largest engine manufacturer in the world and tells you a lot about the emphasis in building good reliable engines that has been the foundation of this great car manufacturer right from its’ humble beginnings.

Honda History:

Founder Soichiro Honda who was a mechanic by trade started off designing a piston ring that he supplied to Toyota.

During the second World War his factory was almost completely destroyed but this did not stop the determined Mr. Honda who was comfortable working in any available space, factory or no factory.

And this put him in a good position to take advantage of the opportunities in Japan shortly after the second world war. Although the country lay in ruins, there was still a demand for transport.

Honda cashed in by building small low cost but reliable engines for bicycles. He officially launched the Honda company on 24th September 1948. Honda then quickly grew into designing and building a wide range of different scooters and motorcycles.

By the 1960s the company was ready for its’ biggest challenge yet—designing and building cars. The first car from the Honda stable was the T360 which was a tiny truck powered by a 360cc engine.

What it was a small light car driven by a motorcycle engine. It would seem hat Honda’s mastery of motorbikes has been put to good use manufacturing small fuel efficient vehicles because that is a niche that Honda has never lost control of in the highly competitive auto industry.

There has also been a bit of luck working in favour of this car manufacturer. For instance they launched the tiny fuel-efficient Honda Civic in the American market in 1972, shortly before the world fuel crisis of 1973 that made it an instant hot seller because American car manufacturers had shunned making small fuel efficient cars for years.

By 1982 Honda America was assembling cars in the United States and started with the highly successful Honda Accord. Many Japanese manufacturers are considered creative imitators. But not Honda whose founder always insisted “Do NOT Imitate.” Little wonder that Honda has always remained on the cutting edge of car engine and design technology.