Honda History

Even when you look back into the very earliest days of Honda history, you’ll notice that this pioneering brand was forever fixated on the future. This forward-thinking brand has revolutionized the industry with head-turning designs and game-changing technology, and they show no signs of slowing down anytime soon! Take a look at the history of Honda cars with Jeffrey Honda in Roseville.

The Early Years

• 1948: The Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was officially established as a joint project between Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa. One year later, they produced their first original “Dream” D-type motorcycle.
• 1959: The American Honda Motor Co., Inc. opens in Los Angeles, California. It is the first international subsidiary.
• 1968: It takes less than ten years for Honda to sell one million motorcycles in the United States.
• 1969: The 4-cylinder CB750 sets the industry on fire, and it even earns the title of “Motorcycle of the Century.” This year also marked the first Honda car sale in the United States: the Honda N600.

A Greener Turn

• 1973: The Honda brand puts eco-friendly technology on the forefront of future designs, and the world’s first 4-stroke marine engine marks this shift by creating a cleaner and more efficient boating experience.
• 1974: The CVCC engine is introduced in the Honda Civic, which is the very first vehicle to meet the U.S. Clean Air Act emissions standards.
• 1984: The American Honda Foundation is established, and will eventually award over $30 million to community organizations around the United States.
• 1999: The Honda Insight becomes the very first North American hybrid on the market, and it dominates the segment for nearly 20 years.

Breaking New Ground

• 2006: The Civic impresses at the North American Car awards, while the Ridgeline cleans up at the Truck of the Year awards.
• 2007: Acura brings home the 1st, 2nd, and 4th place prizes at the American Le Mans Series.
• 2014: Honda becomes the first major automotive manufacturing facility to use wind turbines to supplement its electricity usage.
• 2016: The Honda Clarity debuts as a fuel cell vehicle that emits only water during transit.