Happy 50th Anniversary Honda America!

Fri, 12 Jun 2009

Wow, Honda, that’s quite an achievement!

2009 marks Honda’s fiftieth year of operations in the U.S. Our success in the global marketplace is the result of our commitment to continued investment in America’s future. That’s been our philosophy since we opened our doors here in 1959. It’s what we believe in. It’s what you expect, and it’s why we will continue to grow in America.

We thank our customers for the support and trust they’ve shown us, and look forward to challenging ourselves to create new products and services that bring value to our customers and society during the next 50 years.

The official day was Thursday, June 11.

They have a pretty nice little historical time-line slide show on their website that is really quite interesting so go check it out.

Honda has also thrown together a bit of a “throw-back” documentary on itself and shoved it up on youtube.

Check the full post for the video and Honda’s announcement.

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Honda marked its first 50 years in America June 11, 2009, commemorating the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., in a small Los Angeles storefront on June 11, 1959.

“On behalf of the tens of thousands of Honda associates in America, past and present, we offer our deepest thanks to our customers for placing their trust in Honda over the past 50 years,” said American Honda President & CEO Tetsuo Iwamura. “Today, in the face of new challenges, including the preservation of our environment, we renew our commitment to exceed the expectations of our customers and society.”

Starting in 1959, with the fuel-efficient Honda 50 motorcycle, to the newly launched 2010 Honda Insight gas-electric hybrid vehicle, Honda has introduced new technologies and business strategies that have shaped the industry and the growth of Honda, including:

First automaker to meet U.S. Clean Air Act without a catalytic converter Civic CVCC (1974) First vehicle to top U.S. EPA list of most fuel efficient cars Civic (1977) First Japanese automaker to build motorcycles (1979) and automobiles (1982) in America Marysville, Ohio* First Japanese automaker to establish a luxury automobile brand — Acura (1986) First mass produced gas electric hybrid car introduced in America — Insight (1999) First government-certified hydrogen fuel cell vehicle — FCX (2002)

Honda has steadily expanded its U.S. presence to encompass a broad range of products and operations. Today, Honda employs more than 27,000 U.S. associates engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, sale and servicing of Honda and Acura products including automobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, personal water craft, power equipment, and an advanced light jet.
Honda operates 10 U.S. manufacturing plants with two new plants under construction, along with 14 R&D facilities and more than 12 regional sales, parts and service, and finance offices around the country. The companys network of U.S. parts suppliers comprises 545 companies in 34 states with annual purchases exceeding $17.5 billion in 2008.

-Honda America

By Mark Prociw