Editing Honda (section)

==History==
[[File:Honda T360 1963 in Honda Collection Hall.jpg|thumb|Honda's foray into four-wheelers started with the [[Honda T360]] in 1963.]]

Throughout his life, Honda's founder, [[Soichiro Honda]] (1906–1991), had an interest in automobiles. He worked as a mechanic at the Art Shokai garage, where he tuned cars and entered them in races. In 1937, with financing from his acquaintance [[Kato Shichirō]], Honda founded [[Tōkai region|Tōkai]] Seiki (Eastern Sea Precision Machine Company) to make [[piston ring]]s working out of the Art Shokai garage.<ref name=Alexander2008/> After initial failures, Tōkai Seiki won a contract to supply piston rings to [[Toyota]], but lost the contract due to the poor quality of their products.<ref name=Alexander2008/> After attending engineering school without graduating, and visiting factories around Japan to better understand Toyota's quality control processes known as "[[five whys]]", by 1941 Honda was able to mass-produce piston rings acceptable to Toyota, using an automated process that could employ even unskilled wartime laborers.<ref name=Alexander2008/><ref name=Frank2003/>{{rp|16–19}}

[[Tōkai Seiki]] was placed under the control of the [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Japan)|Ministry of Commerce and Industry]] (called the Ministry of Munitions after 1943) at the start of World War II, and Soichiro Honda was demoted from president to senior managing director after Toyota took a 40% stake in the company.<ref name=Alexander2008/> Honda also aided the war effort by assisting other companies in automating the production of military aircraft propellers.<ref name=Alexander2008/> The relationships Honda cultivated with personnel at Toyota, [[Nakajima Aircraft Company]] and the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] would be instrumental in the postwar period.<ref name=Alexander2008/> A US [[B-29]] bomber attack destroyed Tōkai Seiki's Yamashita plant in 1944, and the Itawa plant collapsed on 13 January [[1945 Mikawa earthquake]]. Soichiro Honda sold the salvageable remains of the company to Toyota after the war for ¥450,000 and used the proceeds to found the Honda Technical Research Institute in October 1946.<ref name=Alexander2008/><ref name=Falloon2005/>

With a staff of 12 men working in a {{convert|16|m2|abbr=on}} shack, they built and sold improvised [[motorized bicycles]], using a supply of 500 [[two-stroke]] ''50&nbsp;cc'' [[Tohatsu]] [[war surplus]] radio [[Engine-generator|generator engines]].<ref name=Alexander2008/><ref name=Frank2003/>{{rp|19}}<ref name=Sakiya1982/> When the engines ran out, Honda began building their own copy of the Tohatsu engine, and supplying these to customers to attach to their bicycles.<ref name=Alexander2008/><ref name=Sakiya1982/> This was the Honda A-Type, nicknamed the Bata Bata for the sound the engine made.<ref name=Alexander2008/> In 1949, the Honda Technical Research Institute was liquidated for {{JPY}}1,000,000, or about {{USD}}5,000 today; these funds were used to incorporate Honda Motor Co., Ltd.<ref name=Frank2003/>{{rp|21}} At about the same time Honda hired engineer Kihachiro Kawashima, and [[Takeo Fujisawa]] who provided indispensable business and marketing expertise to complement Soichiro Honda's technical bent.<ref name=Frank2003/>{{rp|21}} The close partnership between Soichiro Honda and Fujisawa lasted until they stepped down together in October 1973.<ref name=Frank2003/>{{rp|21}}

The first complete motorcycle with both the frame and engine made by Honda was the 1949 [[Honda D-Type|D-Type]], the first Honda to go by the name Dream.<ref name=Falloon2005/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/hof/Classic-Bikes/1951-honda-dream-type-d |title=1951 Honda Dream Type D |work=americanmotorcyclist.com |access-date=17 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042110/http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/hof/Classic-Bikes/1951-honda-dream-type-d |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1961, Honda achieved its first Grand Prix victories and World Championships in the 125&nbsp;cc and 250&nbsp;cc categories.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-09|title=HONDA'S FIRST GOLDEN DECADE AT THE GRAND PRIX • Total Motorcycle|url=https://www.totalmotorcycle.com/hondas-first-golden-decade-at-the-grand-prix/|access-date=2020-08-05|website=Total Motorcycle|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813144323/https://www.totalmotorcycle.com/hondas-first-golden-decade-at-the-grand-prix/|url-status=live}}</ref> Honda Motor Company grew in a short time to become the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles by 1964.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://global.honda/en/about/history.html |title=History |publisher=Honda Global |access-date=2024-11-22 |language=en |archive-date=2024-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241122175443/https://global.honda/en/about/history.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
The first production automobile from Honda was the [[Honda T360|T360]] mini pick-up truck, which went on sale in August 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1962autoproduction/text/05.html |title=Honda Worldwide, History |publisher=World.honda.com |access-date=1 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051128213921/http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1962autoproduction/text/05.html |archive-date=28 November 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Powered by a small 356&nbsp;cc straight-4 gasoline engine, it was classified under the cheaper [[Kei car]] tax bracket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/03/hondas-wild-9000-rpm-mid-engine-rwd-t360-pickup-of-1963/ |title=Honda's Wild 9000 RPM Mid-Engine T360 Pickup Of 1963 |date=30 March 2010 |first=Paul |last=Niedermeyer |publisher=The Truth about Cars |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026045701/http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/03/hondas-wild-9000-rpm-mid-engine-rwd-t360-pickup-of-1963/ |archive-date=26 October 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The second production car from Honda was the [[Honda S500|S500]] sports car, which followed the T360 into production in October 1963. Its chain-driven rear wheels pointed to Honda's motorcycle origins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.classiccar.co.nz/articles/sporting-hondas-classic-buyers-guide-226 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111143543/http://www.classiccar.co.nz/articles/sporting-hondas-classic-buyers-guide-226 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 November 2011 |title=Sporting Hondas – Classic Buyer's Guide |date=21 September 2010 |publisher=New Zealand Classic Car magazine }}</ref>

Over the next few decades, Honda worked to expand its product line, operations and exports to numerous countries around the world. In 1986, Honda introduced the successful [[Acura]] brand to the American market in an attempt to gain ground in the [[luxury vehicle]] market. The year 1991 saw the introduction of the [[Honda NSX]] supercar, the first all-aluminum monocoque vehicle that incorporated a [[Mid-engine design|mid-engine]] V6 with [[Variable valve timing|variable-valve timing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1990thensx/text01/index.html|title=Let's Build a Sportscar!|publisher=Honda|access-date=1 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407125907/http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1990thensx/text01/index.html |archive-date=7 April 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1990, CEO [[Tadashi Kume]] was succeeded by [[Nobuhiko Kawamoto]]. Kawamoto was selected over [[Shoichiro Irimajiri]], who oversaw the successful establishment of Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. in [[Marysville, Ohio]]. Irimajiri and Kawamoto shared a friendly rivalry within Honda; owing to health issues, Irimajiri would resign in 1992.

Following the death of [[Soichiro Honda]] and the departure of Irimajiri, Honda found itself quickly being outpaced in product development by other Japanese automakers and was caught off-guard by the truck and [[sport utility vehicle]] boom of the 1990s, all which took a toll on the profitability of the company. Japanese media reported in 1992 and 1993 that Honda was at serious risk of an unwanted and hostile takeover by [[Mitsubishi Motors]], which at the time was a larger automaker by volume and was flush with profits from its successful [[Mitsubishi Pajero|Pajero]] and [[Mitsubishi Diamante|Diamante]] models.<ref>{{cite news|title=The trouble with excellence|url=http://www.economist.com/node/140416|access-date=5 April 2013 | newspaper=The Economist|date=4 July 1998|archive-date=27 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127054001/http://www.economist.com/node/140416|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kawamoto acted quickly to change Honda's corporate culture, rushing through market-driven product development that resulted in recreational vehicles such as the first-generation [[Honda Odyssey (international)#First generation (RA1-RA5; 1994)|Odyssey]] and the [[Honda CR-V|CR-V]], and a refocusing away from some of the numerous sedans and coupes that were popular with the company's engineers but not with the buying public. The most shocking change to Honda came when Kawamoto ended [[Honda in Formula One|the company's successful participation in Formula One]] after the 1992 season, citing costs in light of the takeover threat from Mitsubishi as well as the desire to create a more environmentally friendly company image.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3012/is_n2_v178/ai_20301571/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530052932/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3012/is_n2_v178/ai_20301571/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 May 2012 |work=Automotive Industries |title=1998 executive of the year – Honda Motor Co. president Nobuhiko Kawamoto |first=Marjorie |last=Sorge |year=1998 |access-date=20 May 2013 }}</ref>

The [[Honda Aircraft Company]] as established in 2006 as a wholly owned subsidiary to manufacture and sell the [[HondaJet]] family of aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gearheads.org/history-of-honda-motor-company/|title=The History of Honda Motor Company|date=18 May 2012|publisher=GearHeads|access-date=1 July 2012|archive-date=30 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530023227/http://gearheads.org/history-of-honda-motor-company/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Honda Enters the Aviation Market|first=Micheline |last=Maynard|date=July 25, 2006|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/25/business/25cnd-honda.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=2024-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127105047/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/25/business/25cnd-honda.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The first deliveries to customers began in December 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Honda Aircraft Begins HondaJet Deliveries|first=Charles |last=Alcock|date=December 23, 2015|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-12-23/honda-aircraft-begins-hondajet-deliveries|publisher=Aviation International News Online|archive-date=26 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226011049/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-12-23/honda-aircraft-begins-hondajet-deliveries|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 23 February 2015, Honda announced that CEO and President [[Takanobu Ito]] would step down and be replaced by Takahiro Hachigo in June of that year; additional retirements by senior managers and directors were expected.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/honda-names-takahiro-hachigo-new-president-1424674084|title=Honda Names Takahiro Hachigo New President; Replaces Takanobu Ito, who took over as chief executive in 2009|date=23 February 2015|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|archive-date=23 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223140459/https://www.wsj.com/articles/honda-names-takahiro-hachigo-new-president-1424674084|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2019, Honda was reported to be in talks with [[Hitachi]] to merge the two companies' car parts businesses, creating a components supplier with almost $17 billion in annual sales.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-29/honda-hitachi-to-merge-four-car-parts-makers-yomiuri-says|title=Honda and Hitachi to Merge Four Car Parts Makers, Yomiuri Says |work=Bloomberg News|date=29 October 2019|archive-date=27 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227214240/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-29/honda-hitachi-to-merge-four-car-parts-makers-yomiuri-says|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2020, Honda announced that it would be withdrawing employees working in the city of [[Wuhan]], [[Hubei]], [[China]] due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/27/coronavirus-prompts-automakers-to-evacuate-workers-from-china-weigh-factory-delays.html|title=Coronavirus prompts automakers to evacuate workers, weigh production delays at Chinese factories|last=Wayland|first=Michael|date=2020-01-27|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=2020-01-27|archive-date=2020-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127225500/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/27/coronavirus-prompts-automakers-to-evacuate-workers-from-china-weigh-factory-delays.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 March 2020 due to the global spread of the virus, Honda became the first major automaker with operations in the US to suspend production in its factories. It resumed automobile, engine and transmission production at its US plants on 11 May 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DePompei |first1=Elizabeth |title=Honda to start resuming production at U.S. plants Monday |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/money/2020/05/08/coronavirus-reopening-honda-resume-production-u-s-plants-monday/3099480001/ |website=IndyStar.com |access-date=3 June 2020|archive-date=13 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513130840/https://www.indystar.com/story/money/2020/05/08/coronavirus-reopening-honda-resume-production-u-s-plants-monday/3099480001/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Honda and General Motors announced in September 2020 a North American alliance to begin in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Whiston|first=David|date=September 3, 2020|title=GM-Honda North American Alliance May Free Up Capital|url=https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1000617/gm-honda-north-american-alliance-may-free-up-capital|access-date=2020-09-04|website=Morningstar.com|language=en|archive-date=4 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904020702/https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1000617/gm-honda-north-american-alliance-may-free-up-capital|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to The Detroit Free Press, "The proposed alliance will include sharing a range of vehicles, to be sold under each company's distinct brands, as well as cooperation in purchasing, research and development, and connected services."<ref>{{Cite web|last=LaReau|first=Jamie L.|title=GM forms alliance with Honda to develop future products in North America|url=https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/general-motors/2020/09/03/general-motors-honda-partnership-north-america/5701104002/|access-date=2020-09-04|website=Detroit Free Press|archive-date=4 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904000525/https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/general-motors/2020/09/03/general-motors-honda-partnership-north-america/5701104002/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2021, Honda announced its intention to become the world's first carmaker to sell a vehicle with level 3 self-driving technology.<ref>{{Cite web|last= Takenaka|first= Kiyoshi|title=Sony and Honda reveal plans to jointly make and sell electric vehicles|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/honda-develop-advanced-level-3-self-driving-technology-by-2029-2022-11-30/|date=30 November 2022|website=Reuters|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130153015/https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/honda-develop-advanced-level-3-self-driving-technology-by-2029-2022-11-30/|url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2022, Honda announced it would develop and build electric vehicles in a joint venture with electronics giant [[Sony]]. The latter is set to provide its imaging, sensing, network and other technologies while Honda would be responsible for the car manufacturing processes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Etherington|first=Darrell|title=Sony and Honda reveal plans to jointly make and sell electric vehicles|url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/04/sony-and-honda-reveal-plans-to-jointly-make-and-sell-electric-vehicles/|date=4 March 2022|access-date=4 March 2022|website=Tech Crunch|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304125042/https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/04/sony-and-honda-reveal-plans-to-jointly-make-and-sell-electric-vehicles/ |archive-date=4 March 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Sony Honda Mobility]] company was officially announced on 13 October 2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sony Honda Mobility Inc. Established. – Move people, through the pursuit of innovation with diverse inspirations. – |url=https://shm-afeela.com/en/news/2022-10-13/ |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=shm-afeela.com |archive-date=2024-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619003716/https://shm-afeela.com/en/news/2022-10-13/|url-status=live}}</ref> with pre-orders said to open in 2025 and the release of the first EVs scheduled for 2026 in the US under the "Afeela" brand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Andrew J. |date=2023-01-05 |title=Sony and Honda just announced their new electric car brand, Afeela |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/4/23539863/sony-honda-electric-vehicle-afeela-ces-reveal-photos |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=The Verge |archive-date=2023-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105015217/https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/4/23539863/sony-honda-electric-vehicle-afeela-ces-reveal-photos |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 2 February 2023, Honda announced a deal with American car company [[General Motors]] to produce cars using a new hydrogen fuel system. The aim is to ramp up the hydrogen powered cells in their Electric vehicles as well as trucks, construction machinery, and power stations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-02 |title=Honda to start producing new hydrogen fuel cell system co-developed with GM |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/honda-start-producing-new-hydrogen-fuel-cell-system-co-developed-with-gm-2023-02-02/ |access-date=2023-02-02|archive-date=2023-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202040023/https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/honda-start-producing-new-hydrogen-fuel-cell-system-co-developed-with-gm-2023-02-02/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 15 March 2023, Honda recalled 500,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada due to an issue with seat belts in the car not latching correctly. Among the models recalled were the 2017-2020 CR-V, the 2018 and 2019 Accord, the 2018-2020 Odyssey, the 2019 Insight, and the Acura RDX from 2019 and 2020. According to the recall, the seat belts in the front seats would break open on impact increasing the risk of injury in a crash.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-15 |title=Honda recalling 500,000 vehicles to fix seat belt problem |language=en |work=AP|url=https://apnews.com/article/honda-seat-belt-buckle-latch-recall-3357e28f886e33d4dd68883106841a6c |access-date=2023-03-15 |archive-date=2023-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315120728/https://apnews.com/article/honda-seat-belt-buckle-latch-recall-3357e28f886e33d4dd68883106841a6c|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 21 December 2023, Honda announced a global recall of about 4.5 million vehicles, including 2.54 million in the US, over fuel pump failures, following earlier recalls in 2021 and 2020 for the same issue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-21 |title=Honda recalls 2.5 million cars because of stalling risk. See if your car is one of them. - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/honda-recall-acura-accord-civic-crv-odyssey-2-5-million-cars/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221130933/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/honda-recall-acura-accord-civic-crv-odyssey-2-5-million-cars/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Attempted merger with Nissan===
On 23 December 2024, Honda officially announced an MOU had been entered to merge with fellow automaker [[Nissan]] to become the 3rd largest auto company by sales. [[Mitsubishi Motors]], in which Nissan has 24% ownership, also agreed to join the talks of integration.<ref>{{Cite web | date=2024-12-23 |title=Honda and Nissan officially begin merger talks to create world's third-largest automaker |work=CNBC |language=en |url=https://cnbc.com/2024/12/23/honda-and-nissan-merger-talks.html |access-date=2024-12-23 |archive-date=2024-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223105115/https://cnbc.com/2024/12/23/honda-and-nissan-merger-talks.html/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The merger was officially set with a deadline of 2026.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Komiya |first=Kantaro |date=December 23, 2024 |title=Honda, Nissan aim to merge by 2026 in historic pivot |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/honda-nissan-set-announce-launch-integration-talks-media-reports-say-2024-12-22/ |website=Reuters}}</ref>  Mitsubishi announced it would make a decision on merging with the new company by the end of January 2025.<ref name=":0" /> 

In February 2025, Honda and Nissan announced that their boards had voted to end talks to merge. Nissan reportedly backed out of the talks with larger rival Honda after negotiations were complicated by growing differences, including Honda’s proposal that Nissan become a subsidiary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Honda, Nissan end merger talks, scuttling $60bn deal |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/13/honda-nissan-end-merger-talks-scuttling-60bn-deal |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>