Honda is a Japanese company that wins the hearts of people all over the world with its best-selling cars, bikes and scooters. This company was founded by Soichiro Honda, it is famous for reliable, fuel-saving vehicles and great innovations like hybrid and electric cars.
From Super Cub to Civic, Honda has a great legacy and they are known for quality and smart engineering. Let’s start today’s article and know the history of Honda, manufacturing units, trending cars and upcoming Honda vehicles.
Honda: Overview
Honda is a Japanese company and giant that is famous for making cars, bikes and scooters. The company was started by Soichiro Honda and today it is one of the top automakers in the world. Honda also has another luxury brand named Acura, which is a very luxury brand that focuses on making reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles. They have taken a big step into hybrid and electric cars these days, and now they are innovating and helping the planet by making it pollution-free.
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. |
| Type | Public (Kabushiki Kaisha) |
| Traded as | TYO: 7267, NYSE: HMC |
| Industry | Automotive, Motorcycles, Power Equipment |
| Founded | September 24, 1948 |
| Founder | Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa |
| Headquarters | Minato, Tokyo, Japan |
| Area Served | Worldwide |
| Key People | Toshihiro Mibe (President & CEO), Tetsuo Iwamura (Chairman) |
| Products | Cars, motorcycles, scooters, engines, power equipment, aircraft |
| Brands | Honda, Acura |
| Production Output (2024) | 3.9 million vehicles (cars), 15 million motorcycles/scooters |
| Revenue (2024) | ¥20.4 trillion (approx. $135 billion USD) |
| Operating Income (2024) | ¥1.4 trillion (approx. $9.3 billion USD) |
| Net Income (2024) | ¥1.1 trillion (approx. $7.3 billion USD) |
| Total Assets (2024) | ¥24 trillion (approx. $160 billion USD) |
| Number of Employees (2025) | Around 197,000 |
| Subsidiaries | Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), Honda Cars India, Acura, Honda Aircraft Company |
| Website | www.honda.com |
History Of Honda
Honda’s journey began in 1948 when Soichiro Honda built a motorized bike in a small shed. The 1959 Super Cub scooter hit the market and went viral, selling millions of units worldwide. Cars were launched a little later. Cars came in 1963 with the T360 truck, followed by the Civic in 1972, which was a huge hit for its fuel efficiency. People loved it. The Accord came in 1976, which boosted Honda’s global fame. Today, Honda is a leader in hybrids and EVs, sticking to its roots of smart, simple engineering
Honda’s Product Portfolio
| Model | Type | Years Made |
| Civic | Sedan/Hatchback | 1972 – Present |
| Accord | Sedan | 1976 – Present |
| CR-V | SUV | 1995 – Present |
| HR-V | Subcompact SUV | 1998 – Present |
| Pilot | Mid-size SUV | 2002 – Present |
| City | Subcompact Sedan | 1981 – Present |
| Prologue | Electric SUV | 2024 – Present |
| Elevate | Mid-size SUV | 2023 – Present |
| Activa | Scooter | 2001 – Present |
| Shine | Motorcycle | 2006 – Present |
| CB350 | Motorcycle | 2020 – Present |
Honda’s Manufacturing Countries
Honda has over 30 factories in 14 countries:
- Japan: Sayama, Suzuka, and Hamamatsu for cars and bikes.
- United States: Ohio and Alabama make Civic and CR-V.
- China: Guangzhou and Wuhan (with partners) for Asia.
- India: Greater Noida and Rajasthan for cars and two-wheelers.
- Thailand: Ayutthaya, a key hub for Southeast Asia.
- Canada, Brazil, Mexico, UK, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Pakistan, Turkey – Local production plants.
Safety Ratings
Honda cars always score high in safety tests and considered good for safe vehicles
- Civic (2024): 5 stars from NHTSA, great crash protection and driver aids.
- CR-V (2024): 5 stars from Euro NCAP, strong inside and front tests.
- Elevate (2024): 4 stars from Global NCAP, solid build with Honda SENSING tech.
Honda Company and Its Joint Ventures
| Partner | Venture Name | Purpose | Location |
| GAC | GAC Honda | Cars for China | China |
| Dongfeng | Dongfeng Honda | Cars for China | China |
| General Motors | – | EV platforms (Prologue, ZDX) | Global |
| Nissan | – | Software and EV research | Japan |
| Hero (ended 2011) | Hero Honda | Motorcycles for India | India |
Trending Honda Cars & Scooters
- Civic Hybrid: It was launched a long time ago and it is still popular for fuel savings and power.
- Activa 7G: A top scooter with new features which will be launched in April 2025 – the best model of Honda.
- Elevate: A stylish SUV which has exciting features and it is gaining a lot of fans.
- CB350: A retro bike loved by riders – popular for fuel efficiency and smooth riding.
Honda Top Selling Cars & Bikes
| Model | Units Sold (2024) | Type |
| CR-V | 360,000 | SUV |
| Civic | 290,000 | Sedan |
| Accord | 200,000 | Sedan |
| Activa | 2.5 million | Scooter |
| Shine | 1.8 million | Motorcycle |
Upcoming Honda Cars, Scooters & Bikes
| Model | Type | Expected On-Road Price (USD) | Launch Date |
| Honda 0 Saloon | Electric Sedan | $45,000 – $55,000 | 2026 |
| Honda 0 SUV | Electric SUV | $50,000 – $60,000 | 2026 |
| Civic Facelift | Sedan | $30,000 – $35,000 | Mid 2025 |
| Scooters: | |||
| Model | Type | Expected On-Road Price (USD) | Launch Date |
| Activa Electric | Electric Scooter | $1,200 – $1,500 | Late 2025 |
| Dio 125 Refresh | Scooter | $1,000 – $1,200 | Early 2026 |
| Bikes: | |||
| Model | Type | Expected On-Road Price (USD) | Launch Date |
| CB500 | Motorcycle | $7,000 – $8,000 | Mid 2025 |
| CB350 Cruiser | Motorcycle | $3,000 – $3,500 | Late 2025 |
Latest News and Updates (April 2025)
- Nissan Talks: Honda and Nissan accelerated merger talks in March 2025 to address EV rivalry from China by sharing technology and selling more vehicles.
- Elevate Milestone: Honda Elevate reached 1 lakh sales by February 2025, with substantial exports to Japan and South Africa.
- CB500 Tip: Honda registered “GB500” as a trademark in the United States, suggesting a new motorcycle for mid-2025.
- Two-Wheeler Lead: Honda surpassed Hero MotoCorp in Indian two-wheeler sales during February 2025, thanks to Activa and Shine.
Conclusion
Honda’s heritage is founded on clever concepts and dependable rides. From its Super Cub era to leading the EV pack, Honda continues to expand. With secure cars, robust alliances, and thrilling new designs, it’s a company that’s here to stay in 2025 and beyond.
FAQs :
Honda isn’t shutting down in India. Rumors pop up, but Honda Cars India and HMSI are doing well, with Elevate and Activa sales booming.
It depends. Honda is great for fun driving and hybrids; Toyota wins for durability and resale value. Both are reliable – pick what suits you.
Civic, CR-V, Accord, Elevate, and City are Honda’s top 5, loved for performance and value.
Acura models like the MDX and TLX are Honda’s luxury cars, offering premium features.
In India, the Honda Amaze (around ₹8-10 lakh on-road) is a top pick for its features and reliability.