2011 Digital Fact Book - Honda

Chronology
Note: North American highlights in bold.
2008
December • Honda reaches a record 24.665 million customers worldwide in 2008,
including record worldwide sales of autos and motorcycles, along with
all-time record global production of 3.957 million automobiles.
November • Honda Motor Co. unveils new Walking Assist Device with Bodyweight
Support system, developed in part from its research into the dynamics
of human motion that led to creation of the ASIMO humanoid robot.
October • Honda Power Equipment Mfg. produces its 20-millionth product since
the start of operations in August 1984.
• Honda Manufacturing of Indiana begins production of Civic Sedans in
its new $550 million auto plant in Greensburg, Ind.
• Cumulative global production of Honda motorcycles reaches
200 million units.
• Honda Soltec Co. begins sales in Japan of Honda-developed thin-film
solar cells.
• Thai Honda achieves cumulative production of 10 million units since
production began in 1987.
September • Acura launches the 2009 TL sedan with the most powerful engine in
Acura history. It is the third generation of TL designed, developed and
manufactured in the U.S.
• The 2009 Pilot earns five-star (front and side impact) and “Top Safety
Pick” crash safety ratings from the NHTSA* and IIHS, respectively.
• Honda of Canada Mfg. begins production of 4-cylinder engines at
new $154 million automobile engine plant in Alliston, Ontario.
• Honda introduces POLAR III third-generation pedestrian crash test
dummy with the aim of reducing lower back and upper leg injuries
common in vehicle-pedestrian collisions.
August • American Honda launches redesigned 2009 Honda Fit.
• Acura announces plans to compete in the LMP1 class of the 2009
American Le Mans race series.
* Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) New Car
Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). Model tested with standard side-impact air bags (SAB’s).
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July • Honda Transmission Mfg. of America in Russells Point, Ohio, produces
its 10-millionth transmission since the start of U.S. transmission
manufacturing in 1997.
• Production of Honda motorcycles in Vietnam reaches 5 million units.
June • Honda begins mass production of all-new FCX Clarity fuel cell electric
vehicle (FCEV) in Japan and introduces first five U.S. customers for
the new vehicle, which sets a new standard for design and advanced
technology in an FCEV.
• American Honda fully deploys the first automaker-operated fleet of more
fuel-efficient Auto-Max ® railcars.
• Cumulative automobile production in Brazil reaches 500,000 units since
the start of production in 1997.
• Honda Siel Cars India introduces the Civic Hybrid as India’s first
gas-electric hybrid automobile.
May • Honda introduces all-new, second-generation Pilot that was designed,
developed and engineered in the U.S. by Honda R&D Americas and is
produced exclusively by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama.
• Honda Aircraft Company begins European sales of HondaJet, including
the announcement of plans for an exclusive regional sales and service
network in the U.K., Germany and Spain.
April • Cumulative global production of the Cub series motorcycle reaches
60 million units.
• Honda opens a new motorcycle plant at the Kumamoto Factory in
Japan. The new plant will become Honda’s global lead plant for
motorcycle production and will take over responsibility for producing
large-size motorcycles.
March • Honda Aircraft Company expands sales of HondaJet throughout North
America by beginning sales in Canada and Mexico.
February • Honda of the UK Manufacturing produces its two-millionth car since the
start of auto production in October 1992.