2011 Digital Fact Book - Honda

Chronology
Note: North American highlights in bold.
2005
December • Honda Ridgeline truck named 2006 Motor Trend magazine Truck of
the Year.
• 2006 Civic becomes first compact car to earn a “Top Safety Pick-Gold”
rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
• Honda Motor Co. announces plans to introduce the Acura brand in Japan
in fall 2008 and to integrate its three existing domestic sales channels —
Primo, Verno and Clio — into one Honda channel in March 2006.
• New ASIMO robot debuts with dramatically improved running capability
and enhanced ability to act in sync with people.
• Honda Motor Co. announces plans to begin mass production in 2007
of Honda-developed thin film solar cell.
• Honda Super Cub production reached 50-million-unit milestone since
its 1958 debut.
November • Honda Civic named 2006 Motor Trend magazine Car of the Year.
• Honda R&D Americas introduces Home Energy Station III, the
third-generation of its experimental hydrogen refueling device
developed in partnership with Plug Power, Inc.
• Honda announces plans to establish R&D operations in Thailand with
the creation of Honda R&D Asia Pacific, Ltd., a subsidiary of Honda
R&D Co., Ltd.
October • Honda announces plans to establish transmission manufacturing
operations in China with the creation of Honda Auto Parts Manufacturing
Co., Ltd., the company’s fourth major automatic transmission plant in
the world.
September • Honda announces plan to introduce world’s first airbag technology for
a production motorcycle on the 2006 Honda Gold Wing motorcycle.
• Honda introduced ASV-3 advanced safety vehicle equipped with
Inter-Vehicle communications technology.
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August • HondaJet makes its worldwide public debut, July 29, at the
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Air Venture in Oshkosh, Wis.
• Honda Motor (China) Investment Co. (HMCI) announces plans to launch
the Acura brand in China with the introduction of the Acura RL in spring
2006, to be marketed through a dedicated Acura dealer network.
July • Honda leases 2005 FCX to world’s first individual customer for a
hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle, the Spallino family of Redondo
Beach, California.
• Honda announces commitment to include U.S. government crash
test “star ratings” on the window labels of all 2006 Honda and Acura
vehicles, a first for any automaker.
June • Honda Automobile (China) Co. (CHAC) begins export of the Jazz compact
passenger car to Europe. CHAC is the first auto plant in China dedicated
to export production.
May • The 2006 Honda Ridgeline becomes the first 4-door pickup to earn
the NHTSA’s highest crash test rating for frontal and side impacts.
• Cumulative worldwide sales of Honda hybrid vehicles reaches
100,000 units.
April • Honda introduces Phill natural gas home refueling appliance
in conjunction with Fuelmaker Corp. to help promote sales of
cleaner-burning CNG vehicles like the Honda Civic GX.
January • American Honda and Disneyland ® Resort form 10-year strategic
business alliance.