Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced that Honda's cumulative
worldwide motorcycle production reached the 300 million-unit milestone in
September 2014. The company held a ceremony at Kumamoto Factory, Honda’s
primary motorcycle production plant in Japan, to commemorate this milestone.
Honda is currently producing motorcycles at 33 plants in 22 countries. India is
one of the biggest markets for motorcycles in the world and Honda operates through
its fully owned subsidiary Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Ltd (HMSI).
A Gold Wing 40th Anniversary Edition produced at Kumamoto
Factory became the 300 millionth motorcycle that Honda has produced globally.
The 300 million-unit
milestone was reached in the 66th year since Honda began motorcycle production
in 1949 with the Dream Type-D.
According to a Honda
press release, the history of Honda’s motorcycle business began with the start
of mass-production in Japan in 1949. Production outside of Japan began in
Belgium in 1963, and since then Honda has been expanding its local production
to many countries around the world based on Honda’s commitment to “build
products close to the customer.” With a longstanding passion to create
technologies that make people’s lives more convenient and fun, Honda has been
developing and offering products that accommodate the diverse needs of
customers in a large number of countries and regions around the world.
Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd,
said that “Thanks to support from our customers and all of the people involved
in development, production and sales, Honda was able to reach the 300
million-unit milestone. We will continue to provide products that will please
our customers in each country and region in the world.”
Founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda, Honda is the world’s
largest engine manufacturer. Since 1986, it has been actively involved in
robotics, and released the first ASIMO humanoid robot in 2000.
In 2006, Honda announced its plan to enter the aviation market
with a compact business jet aircraft. The HondaJet is now entering the final
stages of certification process.
In 2013 Honda sold 16.8 million motorcycles worldwide, an
increase of 8.7pc compared to 2012. It has been the world’s largest motorcycle
manufacturer since 1959. The Honda Super
Cub is the most-produced motorcycle in history. Cumulative worldwide production
reached 87 million units in March 2014. It has been sold in more than 160
countries.
The Honda Gold Wing celebrates its 40th anniversary of
production in 2015, This milestone is being commemorated with a Special Edition
colour scheme for the GL1800 Gold Wing.
Honda has an unequalled record of success in motorcycle
racing, having won 21 Constructors Titles in the premier class (known currently
as MotoGP), 63 Constructors Championships and 697 races across all categories
in the premier class.
Spain’s 21 year old 2014 MotoGP champion Marc Marquez won a
record 13 Grand Prix in the 2014 season. Over 30,000 motorcycles equipped with
Honda’s unique Dual Clutch Transmission have been sold in Europe since its
introduction in 2010, the release added.