Honda Motor Company, Ltd. is a Japanese multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.
Honda has been the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959,[3][4] as well as the world’s largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year.[5] Honda surpassed Nissan in 2001 to become the second-largest Japanese automobile manufacturer.[6][7] As of August 2008, Honda surpassed Chrysler as the fourth largest automobile manufacturer in the United States.[8] Honda is the sixth largest automobile manufacturer in the world.

Honda Houston was the first Japanese automobile manufacturer to release a dedicated luxury brand, Acura, in 1986. Aside from their core automobile and motorcycle businesses, Honda also manufactures garden equipment, marine engines, personal watercraft and power generators, amongst others. Since 1986, Honda has been involved with artificial intelligence/robotics research and released their ASIMO robot in 2000. They have also ventured into aerospace with the establishment of GE Honda Aero Engines in 2004 and the Honda HA-420 HondaJet, scheduled to be released in 2011. Honda spends about 5% of its revenues into R&D.[9]

From a young age, Honda’s founder, Soichiro Honda (本田 宗一郎, Honda Sōichirō) had a great interest in automobiles. He worked as a mechanic at a Japanese tuning shop, Art Shokai, where he tuned cars and entered them in races. A self-taught engineer, he later worked on a piston design which he hoped to sell to Toyota. The first drafts of his design were rejected, and Soichiro worked painstakingly to perfect the design, even going back to school and pawning his wife’s jewelry for collateral. Eventually, he won a contract with Toyota and built a factory to construct pistons for them, which was destroyed in an earthquake. Due to a gasoline shortage duringWorld War II, Honda was unable to use his car, and his novel idea of attaching a small engine to his bicycle attracted much curiosity. He then established the Honda Technical Research Institute in Hamamatsu, Japan, to develop and produce small 2-cycle motorbike engines. Calling upon 18,000 bicycle shop owners across Japan to take part in revitalizing a nation torn apart by war, Soichiro received enough capital to engineer his first motorcycle, the Honda Cub. This marked the beginning of Honda Motor Company, which would grow a short time later to be the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles by 1964.

The first production automobile from Honda was the T360 mini pick-up truck, which went on sale in August 1963.[10] Powered by a small 356 cc straight-4 gasoline engine, it was classified under the cheaper Kei car tax bracket.[citation needed] The first production car from Honda was the S500 sports car, which followed the T360 into production in October 1963. Its chain driven rear wheels point to Honda’s motorcycle origins.[citation needed]

[edit]Corporate profile and divisions
Honda is headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Their shares trade on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, as well as exchanges in Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, London, Paris and Switzerland.
The company has assembly plants around the globe. These plants are located in China, the United States, Pakistan, Canada, England, Japan, Belgium, Brazil, New Zealand, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Turkey and Perú. As of July 2010, 89 percent of Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the United States were built in North American plants, up from 82.2 percent a year earlier. This shields profits from the yen’s advance to a 15-year high against the dollar.[8]
Honda’s Net Sales and Other Operating Revenue by Geographical Regions in 2007[11]
American Honda Motor Company is based in Torrance, California. Honda Canada Inc. is headquartered in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, and is building new corporate headquarters in Markham, Ontario, scheduled to relocate in 2008;[12] their manufacturing division, Honda of Canada Manufacturing, is based in Alliston, Ontario. Honda has also created joint ventures around the world, such as Honda Siel Cars and Hero Honda Motorcycles in India,[13] Guangzhou Honda and Dongfeng Honda in China, and Honda Atlas in Pakistan.

[edit]Current market position
With high fuel prices and a weak U.S. economy in June 2008, Honda reported a 1% sales increase while its rivals, including the Detroit Big Three and Toyota, have reported double-digit losses. Honda’s sales were up almost 20 percent from the same month last year. The Civic and the Accord were in the top five list of sales.[14][15] Analysts have attributed this to two main factors. First, Honda’s product lineup consists of mostly small to mid-size, highly fuel-efficient vehicles. Secondly, over the last ten years, Honda has designed its factories to be flexible, in that they can be easily retooled to produce any Honda model that may be in-demand at the moment.

Nonetheless, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota, were still not immune to the global financial crisis of 2008, as these companies reduced their profitability forecasts. The economic crisis has been spreading to other important players in the vehicle related industries as well.[16][17] In November 2009 the Nihon Keizai Shinbun reported that Honda Motor exports have fallen 64.1%.[18]

At the 2008 Beijing Auto Show, Honda presented the Li Nian (“concept” or “idea”) 5-door hatchback and announced that they were looking to develop an entry-level brand exclusively for the Chinese market similar to Toyota’s Scion brand in the USA.[19]The brand would be developed by a 50–50 joint-venture established in 2007 with Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group.[20][21]

Following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 Honda announced plans to halve production at its UK plants.[citation needed] The decision was made to put staff at the Swindon plant on a 2 day week until the end of May as the manufacturer struggled to source supplies from Japan. It’s thought around 22,500 cars were produced during this period.
[edit]Leadership
 1948–1973 – Soichiro Honda
 1973–1983 – Kiyoshi Kawashima
 1983–1990 – Tadashi Kume
 1990–1998 – Nobuhiko Kawamoto
 1998–2004 – Hiroyuki Yoshino
 2004–2009 – Takeo Fukui
 since 2009 – Takanobu Ito

[edit]Automobiles
Honda’s global lineup consists of the Fit, Civic, Accord, Insight, CR-V, and Odyssey[disambiguation needed]. An early proponent of developing vehicles to cater to different needs and markets worldwide, Honda’s lineup varies by country and may feature vehicles exclusive to that region. A few examples are the latest Acura TL luxury sedan and the Ridgeline, Honda’s first light-duty uni-body pickup truck. Both were engineered primarily in North America and are exclusively produced and sold there.

The Civic is a line of compact cars developed and manufactured by Honda. In North America, the Civic is the second-longest continuously running nameplate from a Japanese manufacturer; only its perennial rival, the Toyota Corolla, introduced in 1968, has been in production longer.[22] The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda’s vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded. Having gone through several generational changes, the Civic has become larger and more upmarket, and it currently slots between the Fit and Accord.

Honda increased global production in September 2008 to meet demand for small cars in the U.S. and emerging markets. The company is shuffling U.S. production to keep factories busy and boost car output, while building fewer minivans and sport utility vehicles as light truck sales fall.[23]
Honda produces Civic hybrid, a hybrid electric vehicle that competes with the Toyota Prius, and also produces the Insight and CR-Z.
Its first entrance into the pickup segment, the light duty Ridgeline, won Truck of the Year from Motor Trend magazine in 2006. Also in 2006, the redesigned Civic won Car of the Year from the magazine, giving Honda a rare double win of Motor Trend honors.

It is reported that Honda plans to increase hybrid sales in Japan to more than 20% of its total sales in fiscal year 2011, from 14.8% in previous year.[24]
Five of United States Environmental Protection Agency’s top ten most fuel-efficient cars from 1984 to 2010 comes from Honda, more than any other automakers. The five models are: 2000–2006 Honda Insight (53 mpg-US/4.4 L/100 km; 64 mpg-imp combined), 1986–1987 Honda Civic Coupe HF (46 mpg-US/5.1 L/100 km; 55 mpg-imp combined), 1994–1995 Honda Civic hatchback VX (43 mpg-US/5.5 L/100 km; 52 mpg-impmpg combined), 2006– Honda Civic Hybrid (42 mpg-US/5.6 L/100 km; 50 mpg-imp combined), and 2010– Honda Insight (41 mpg-US/5.7 L/100 km; 49 mpg-imp combined).[25] The ACEEE has also rated the Civic GXas the greenest car in America for seven consecutive years.[26]

[edit]Motorcycles
Honda is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Japan and has been since it started production in 1955.[27] At its peak in 1982, Honda manufactured almost 3 million motorcycles annually. By 2006 this figure had reduced to around 550,000 but was still higher than its three domestic competitors.[27]
During the 1960s, when it was a small manufacturer, Honda broke out of the Japanese motorcycle market and began exporting to the U.S. Taking Honda’s story as an archetype of the smaller manufacturer entering a new market already occupied by highly dominant competitors, the story of their market entry, and their subsequent huge success in the U.S. and around the world, has been the subject of some academic controversy. Competing explanations have been advanced to explain Honda’s strategy and the reasons for their success.[28]

The first of these explanations was put forward when, in 1975, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) was commissioned by the UK government to write a report explaining why and how the British motorcycle industry had been out-competed by its Japanese competitors. The report concluded that the Japanese firms, including Honda, had sought a very high scale of production (they had made a large number of motorbikes) in order to benefit from economies of scale and learning curve effects. It blamed the decline of the British motorcycle industry on the failure of British managers to invest enough in their businesses to profit from economies of scale and scope.
The second explanation was offered in 1984 by Richard Pascale, who had interviewed the Honda executives responsible for the firm’s entry into the U.S. market. As opposed to the tightly focused strategy of low cost and high scale that BCG accredited to Honda, Pascale found that their entry into the U.S. market was a story of “miscalculation, serendipity, and organizational learning” – in other words, Honda’s success was due to the adaptability and hard work of its staff, rather than any long term strategy. For example, Honda’s initial plan on entering the U.S. was to compete in large motorcycles, around 300 cc. It was only when the team found that the scooters they were using to get themselves around their U.S. base of San Francisco attracted positive interest from consumers that they came up with the idea of selling the Super Cub.

The most recent school of thought on Honda’s strategy was put forward by Gary Hamel and C. K. Prahalad in 1989. Creating the concept of core competencies with Honda as an example, they argued that Honda’s success was due to its focus on leadership in the technology of internal combustion engines. For example, the high power-to-weight ratio engines Honda produced for its racing bikes provided technology and expertise which was transferable into mopeds. Honda’s entry into the U.S. motorcycle market during the 1960s is used as a case study for teaching introductory strategy at business schools worldwide.

MAJOR PROJECTS

West Ave – Ongoing
Set at the crossroads of Upper Kirby and River Oaks, Houston’s much-anticipated West Ave development has finally opened up shop. The mixed-use center—which blends luxury residences and 190,000-square-feet of retail space—recently welcomed Austin-based Eddie V’s and Ivory Bridal to the ’hood, but things are really heating up now. In early 2011, the legendary Schiller-Del Grande Group opened New Continental restaurant Ava Kitchenand opened casually-cool Alto Pizzeria in May. Restaurateur Anita Jaisinghani (of Indika fame) opened her family-style Indian restaurant,Pondicheri, in March, and Mickey Rosmarin debuted his 35,000-square-foot fashion mainstay, Tootsies, in February. Cru Wine Bar opened in June, andAzur West, the first of three Shu Uemura Art of Hair Sanctuary Salons in the U.S., opened in March. Katsuya by S+ARCK will bring its Robata-style cuisine to West Ave in early 2012.

Lower Westheimer – Ongoing
Lower Westheimer—the inner-loop drag between Shepherd Drive and Bagby Street—has remained a culinary destination in the city for years. Classic, award-winning spots like Mark’s, Indika, Hugo’s, Feast and Da Marco were among the first on the scene. The neighborhood is now making room for a host of new restaurants in 2011. Gulf Coast-inspired chef and restaurateur Bryan Caswell—of The Next Iron Chef fame—helped kick off the Lower Westheimer resurgence, opening El Real Tex-Mex Café in spring 2011. Just across the street, boundary-pushing chef Chris Shepherd (most recently of Catalan) is set to join the mix with Underbelly. Expect the spot to reflect Shepherd’s commitment to fresh, local ingredients, with a nod to Houston’s culinary diversity. The concept—which is slated for a fall opening—sits next door to the soon-to-open Hay Merchant craft beer bar from Anvil Bar & Refuge’s Kevin Floyd and Bobby Heugel. Two-time, James Beard award-winning chef and restaurateur Tyson Cole rounds out the year’s all-star additions, opening the second outpost of Austin-born Uchi. The celebrated sushi restaurant is expected to open before Thanksgiving.

Houston Heights – Ongoing
Houston’s Historic Heights neighborhood is booming with new businesses. White Oak Drive—between Yale and Studewood—continues to evolve into a pedestrian-friendly hub. Classic, come-as-you-are spots like Jimmie’s Place and music-mainstay Fitzgerald’s were among the first on the scene, followed by Onion Creek Coffee House and Dry Creek burger joint. In 2011, the White Oak strip, once again, saw an influx as BB’s Cajun Café,Christian’s Tailgate and the locally-sourced grocer Revival Market all opened up shop. Stay tuned for the walkable stretch to expand with additional locations of D’Amico’s Italian Market Café, Tacos A Go-Go and Ruggles 11th Street Café stated to open before year’s end.

Bayou Place – Ongoing
Downtown dining and entertainment destination Bayou Place is experiencing a renaissance in 2011. Two new bars opened in March as part of the center’s re-imagined nightlife experience, Bayou Place Live! Western-themed PBR Houston brings country dancing and a little bull-riding action while Lucie’s Liquors offers an upscale sports bar experience, Vegas-style. Retro beach concept Shark Bar and whiskey bar Chapel Spirits both debuted in May. The Blue Fish, a Dallas outpost serving up sushi, opened in March 2011. Robert Redford’s highly-anticipated Sundance Cinemas, opening November 2011, will feature both general release and art films along with several drink-and-dine options. More…

CityCentre
Two years after debuting in west Houston-and establishing itself as a hub for top dining and entertainment in town-the pedestrian-friendly CityCentre development is expanding again. Midway Companies just broke ground on CityCentre Three with additional office and retail components, and construction is underway on an upscale, sports-themed restaurant and bar concept developed by Fort Lauderdale-based G.R.E.AT. Grille Group (G3). And next month, Honda Houston Hotel Sorella, which recently debuted 11, residential-style penthouse suites—averaging 1,500 square feet and featuring Viking kitchens—opens the doors to its 15,000-square-foot Meetings & Events Centre. More…

Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid – Reopened May 2011
Moody Garden’s $25 million Rainforest Pyramid enhancement project opened Memorial Day Weekend. The expansive recreation of Rainforests of the World provides guests with a unique two-level experience on the ground and in the canopy of the trees. More than 2,000 exotic plants and animals now call the 10-story Rainforest Pyramid home, including free-roaming saki monkeys, sloths, birds and cotton-top tamarins. Other exhibits include: fruit bats, giant river otters, endangered Chinese alligators and other species. More…

Wake Nation – Opened June 2011
Wake Nation is one of 10 in the U.S. and Houston’s only full-scale cable wakeboarding park. This attraction boasts 35-foot high steel towers carrying a unique overhead cable system enabling riders to wakeboard, water skate, water ski, and kneeboard without a boat around the lake. More…

Coming Soon
Houston Zoo Elephant Exhibit Expansion – Opening Fall 2011
After completing the first phase of a new and innovative elephant facility in 2008, the Houston Zoo will complete phase two in early Fall 2011. The Zoo will utilize the land previously home to the giraffes and cheetahs to create a third elephant yard, featuring an unobstructed viewing area, a demonstration area and an 80,000 gallon pool. With two elephant births in 2010—Baylor in May and Tupelo in October—the expansion is a welcome addition. More…

Sundance Cinemas Houston – Opening November 2011
Sundance Cinemas has signed a lease for the former Angelika center space at Bayou Place in the Theater District of Downtown Houston. Extensive refurbishment work has already begun on the eight-screen complex. Sundance Cinemas Houston will offer specialized film programming, playing the finest movies for a discerning audience culled from film festivals and the best in general release. The venue will offer drinking and dining choices, all reserved seating, digital stereo sound and presentation, filmmaker screenings and exclusive events, plus free parking for patrons and community events. More…

Asia Society Texas Center – Opening April 2012
Asia Society Texas Center’s $48.4 million, 38,000-square-foot headquarters, designed by architect Yoshio Taniguchi—who designed the Museum of Modern Art’s 2004 expansion—will feature five major program components: a three-room classroom and conference suite, an art gallery, a theater, public reception spaces and administrative offices. Three gardens, a gift shop and a cafe will enrich the space and enhance services. Asia Society Texas Center will be the only physical presence of Asia Society in the United States other than the New York City center and will provide clear access to international business and political leaders from Asia. More…

Houston Dynamo Stadium – Opening May 2012
The new Dynamo stadium will be a state-of-the-art, open-air stadium designed to host Dynamo matches as well as additional sporting and concert events. When it opens in 2012, the 22,000-seat stadium will be the first soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer located in a city’s downtown district. More…

Houston Museum of Natural Science Paleontology Hall Expansion – Opening Summer 2012
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is expanding its Paleontology Hall–two stories tall and the size of a football field–to invite visitors to embark on a “Prehistoric Safari” through exhibits with 21st century interactivity. The exhibit will feature 61 new mounts, including 26 dinosaurs, including the most mounted T-Rexes on display anywhere. Other attractions include a nest of Quetzalcoatlus—ancient Pterosaurs with 30-foot wingspans—and a 13-foot, reconstructed jaw of a Megalodon, the largest shark ever to swim the ocean. The realistic juxtapositioning of the animals—many poised to eat or be eaten by their display mates—will be the new hall’s defining characteristic.The 200,000-square-foot addition, the seventh expansion of the 102-year-old museum since its current facility opened in the 1960s, will roughly double exhibition space and triple classroom space. More…

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HOTELS

Westin Houston Memorial City – Opened March 2011
This 570,000 square foot property in West Houston features 267 spacious guest rooms and suites, more than 30,000 square feet of unconstrained meeting and banquet space and an 18th-floor infinity pool with panoramic views of Houston’s skyline. The property includes Trattoria Il Mulino restaurant and The 024 Lounge, 23 residential units and a wide-array of retail establishments in the surrounding area. More…
Embassy Suites Downtown – Opened February 2011
A 262-room, full-service Embassy Suites Hotel, adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center and downtown’s Discovery Green park, features 6,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, a roofscape pool and spa, 24-hour fitness center, a restaurant, a street-level café and wine bar, and two levels of underground valet parking. The 19-story property represents the first privately developed, full-service hotel built from the ground up in Houston’s Central Business District in 28 years. More…
Hotel ICON – To Reflag in 2011
Downtown’s Hotel ICON, a historic district landmark that began its life as the Union National Bank building in 1911, has been purchased for a reported $27-million by Centurion Partners and Canyon Johnson Urban Fund, which is backed in part by former NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson. The new owners plan to make cosmetic and technological updates to the 135-room property. Hotel ICON will continue operations under Destination Hotels & Resorts with a seamless rebranding to an undisclosed chain later in the year. More about Hotel ICON…

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RESTAURANTS

Tony Mandola’s – Opened June 2011
After decades in River Oaks, Tony Mandola has opened his new, ground-up namesake restaurant in Montrose. The recipes of Mama Mandola continue to inspire the menu, from the sautéed soft shell crabs and Snapper Bernadette to Mama’s gumbo pizza and the sumptuous lemon crepes. More…

Arturo Boada Cuisine – Opened May 2011
The former owner-operator of Arturo’s Uptown Italiano, who departed the popular namesake in spring 2011, has now opened a new signature spot, Arturo Boada Cuisine, in west Houston’s Memorial area. More…

Brasserie 19 – Opened May 2011
Situated in the heart of Houston’s affluent River Oaks neighborhood—within the 77019 zip code, hence, the Brasserie 19 moniker—the menu at this new concept from Charles Clark and Grant Cooper features classic French brasserie fare with modern American influences. More…

Mai’s Restaurant – Opened April 2011
Lauded Midtown Vietnamese restaurant Mai’s is back. After a two-alarm fire gutted the decades-old eatery in early 2010, the owners reopened in April with a whole new look and a new menu. More…

Xuco Xicana – Rebranded April 2011
The spot, formerly known as El Patio-Midtown, welcomed a top-to-bottom rebranding in spring 2011—a move aiming to better serve the neighborhood’s younger crowd. Now dubbed El Xuco Xicana (ELXX, to regulars), the changes included updates to the name, bar area and a complete menu overhaul by Beaver’s Chef Jonathan Jones, who calls the cuisine “Comida Texano: Mexican food with a Texas attitude.” More…

Coming Soon
Sorrel Urban Bistro – Opening July 2011
Born out of a shared vision to bring affordable farm-to-table dining to Houston, restaurateur Ray Salti and Executive Chef Soren Pedersen will feature menu creations directed by seasonal availability of organic fruits and vegetables, along with certified natural meats and fresh sustainable seafood. A dedicated charcuterie bar will offer sliced-to-order charcuterie and artisan Texas cheeses, Italian market style. More…

Underbelly – Opening Fall 2011
Chef Chris Shepherd, formerly of Catalan Food and Wine, opens Underbelly in the former Chances building in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood this fall. An avid supporter of local farmers—you can see him each week at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market on Eastside—expect plenty of local ingredients, including a wide variety of Gulf seafood, on a menu inspired by the city’s Southern roots and rich cultural diversity. More…

Uchi – Opening Fall 2011
James Beard Award winning Chef Tyson Cole will open his second Uchi location in Houston in late 2011. The menu, which will be very similar to the Austin restaurant’s menu, will feature traditional sushi and sashimi, a diverse menu from the kitchen and sake, wine and beer offerings. Uchi will open on Lower Westheimer in the building that was previously home to Felix Mexican Restaurant.

Katsuya by S+ARCK – Opening Early 2012
The new Katsuya by S+ARCK Houston, which will be the first location in Texas, represents the seventh collaboration between sbe Founder, Chairman and CEO, Sam Nazarian, world-renowned creator and designer, Philippe S+ARCK and Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi. More…

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SHOPS/SPAS

The Galleria – Ongoing
Prada will open its 5,000-square-foot post at The Galleria this fall. It will mark their first location in Texas. Miu Miu will also open their first store in Texas—nearly 3,500 square feet—at The Galleria in early summer. Omegais slated to open their doors in Houston for the first time in June/July. Free People opened a 2,600-square-foot store in late May. Michael Korscompleted its 1,000-square-foot expansion in late spring, and Jimmy Choocompleted a renovation in June. More…

Atrium Ready to Wear – Opened April 2011
After opening River Oaks’ Casa de Novia bridal boutique in 2005, fashion-savvy entrepreneur Luvi Wheelock has expanded with Atrium-a ready-to-wear outpost just next door. The 500-square-foot Parisian-inspired shop offers cocktail gowns and evening frocks from a mix of well-known and rising-star designers. More…

Coming Soon
Phoenicia Specialty Foods Downtown – Opening September 2011
Carrying more than 6,000 products from more than 50 countries, Phoenicia Specialty Foods Downtown will be a haven for foodies, chefs and downtown dwellers. Opening in September 2011, Phoenicia will boast 28,000-square-feet on the ground floor of One Park Place. More…

BHLDN – Opening August 2011
BHLDN, the new bridal boutique from Anthropologie, is opening its first U.S. location in Highland Village. More…

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NIGHTLIFE

Chapel Spirits – Opened May 2011
Downtown’s Bayou Place welcomed a swanky new tenant—an upscale whiskey lounge, set on the second-level of the entertainment complex.More…

Shark Bar – Opened May 2011
A new addition to downtown’s Bayou Place, Shark Bar will fulfill all your summer cravings, from rum runners to piña coladas. Feel like you’re shoreside year-round with their fruity cocktails, beach-like atmosphere, incredible views of downtown, and laid back staff. More…

The Boneyard – Opened April 2011
Talk about a revelation. The Boneyard on Washington Ave. combines two things we love—dogs and brews—in one location. More…

Coming Soon
The Hay Merchant – Opening Fall 2011
The boys from Anvil Bar & Refuge are at it again. Nightlife entrepreneurs Kevin Floyd and Bobby Heugel will open their craft beer bar, The Hay Merchant, adjacent to Chef Chris Shepherd’s Underbelly on Lower Westheimer this fall. With 80 beers on tap and Contemporary American Beer Food—think traditional offerings like quality burgers and wings, crafted with locally-sourced meats butchered in-house—The Hay Merchant aims to showcase great craft beer in laid-back Montrose style.

• Houston is the fourth most populous city in the nation (trailing only New York, Los Angeles and Chicago), and is the largest in the southern U.S. and Texas.
• The Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (Houston CMSA) consists of eight counties: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller.
• Founded in 1836, the City of Houston has a 2009 estimated population of 2.25 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
• The metro area’s population of 5.54 million in 2006 is 6th largest among U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, according to the U.S. Census.
• The Honda Houston CMSA covers 8,778 square miles, an area slightly smaller than Massachusetts but larger than New Jersey.
• Houston’s latitude is 29 degrees 45 minutes north and its longitude is 95 degrees 22 minutes west
• Houston is 43 feet above sea level
• The three-airport system served over 51 million passengers in 2006, including over seven million international travelers.
• If Houston were an independent nation, it would rank as the world’s 30th largest economy
• The ACCRA Cost of Living Index shows that Houston’s overall after-taxes living costs are 12 percent below the nationwide average, largely due to housing costs that are 26 percent below the average
• Houstonians eat out more than residents of any other city. While here you can choose to indulge in one of the more than 11,000 restaurants ranging from award-winning and upscale to memorable deli shops.
• Houston has a Theater District second only to New York City with its concentration of seats in one geographic area. Located downtown, the 17-block Theater District is home to eight performing arts organizations with more than 12,000 seats.
• Houston has a unique museum district offering a range of museums, galleries, art and cultural institutions, including the City’s major museums.
• Houston has more than 500 cultural, visual and performing arts organizations, 90 of which are devoted to multicultural and minority arts and is one of five U.S. cities that offer year-round resident companies in all major performing arts
• More than 90 languages are spoken throughout the Houston area.
• Houston has professional teams representing football, baseball, mens and womens basketball, soccer, and AHL hockey.
• Houston is home to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The largest rodeo in the world, it attracts more than 1.8 million visitors each year.
• Houston has among the youngest populations in the nation. The city has the third-largest Hispanic and third-largest Mexican population in the United State
• Houston boasts more than 40 colleges, university and institutions – offering higher education options to suit all interests.
• Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world, with a local economic impact of $10 billion. More than 52,000 people work within its facilities, which encompass 21 million square feet. Altogether 4.8 million patients visit them each year.
• The Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA’s Gross Area Product (GAP) in 2006 was $325.5 billion, slightly larger than Austria’s, Poland’s or Saudi Arabia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• When comparing Houston’s economy to a national economy, only 21 countries other than the United States have a gross domestic product exceeding Houston’s regional gross area product.
• Houston ranks second in employment growth rate and fourth in nominal employment growth among the 10 most populous metro areas in the U.S. In 2006, the Houston metropolitan area ranked first in Texas and third in the U.S. within the category of “Best Places for Business and Careers” by Forbes magazine.
• Home to and more than 5,000 energy related firms, Houston is considered by many as the Energy Capital of the world.
• Houston’s economy has a broad industrial base in the energy, aeronautics, and technology industries: only New York City is home to more Fortune 500 headquarters.
• The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled. It is the tenth largest port in the world.

07/25/2011 – TORRANCE, Calif.
The 2012 Honda CR-V Concept provides the first official glimpse of the styling direction for the all-new, fourth-generation CR-V set to go on sale in the United States by the end of the year, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

“The 2012 CR-V Concept introduces the exterior styling for the more sophisticated and dynamic design of the upcoming production model,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda. “Long considered the benchmark for packaging and user-friendly design in the small SUV segment, the all-new CR-V will offer an added dimension of style, amazing interior versatility and Honda’s latest technologies for convenience and refinement.”

The Honda Houston CR-V Concept embraces a distinctive and bold styling direction for the top-selling1 SUV in the United States. Compared to the current-generation CR-V, the concept model takes on a more aggressive stance with deeper sculpting of the body lines and a bolder front fascia. The front bumper’s smooth-flowing lines are highlighted by a horizontal three-bar grille and deeply set multi-reflector headlights. The lower front bumper wraps smartly upward to convey SUV capability with a generous approach angle, while the lower front bumper design now integrates more smoothly with the fascia for improved aerodynamics.

The CR-V’s signature vertical rear taillights remain for 2012 with a more three-dimensional style that wraps further into the design of the vehicle. The CR-V Concept’s large 5-spoke machined alloy wheels and bold fender flares emphasize the vehicle’s dynamic presence and capability.

The all-new 2012 CR-V will improve upon the current model in a variety of ways, and will feature a more fuel-efficient engine and reduced body weight. In addition to all-new exterior styling, the 2012 CR-V will have an all-new interior with a more accommodating and spacious design with a lower cargo floor.

Currently in the fifth year of its model cycle, the CR-V continues to sell at a record pace. The 2011 CR-V was among the highest-ranked vehicles in its segment for initial quality in J.D. Power & Associates’ 2011 Initial Quality Study (IQS), where it finished second to the Honda Element in the compact SUV segment. The CR-V is sold globally in more than 160 countries throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. In the U.S., CR-V is manufactured in Ohio at the East Liberty Auto Plant of Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc., using domestic and globally sourced parts. The East Liberty Auto Plant earned a Silver Award for outstanding quality in the recently released J.D. Power 2011 Initial Quality Study. The 2012 CR-V Concept will be on display at the Orange County International Auto Show in Anaheim, California, in September.

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

08/03/2011 – TORRANCE, Calif.
The 2012 Honda Crosstour® approaches the crossover SUV formula from a distinctively sleek, sporty and fuel-efficient perspective while also maximizing the interior’s cargo capacity, versatility and premium feel.

The Crosstour’s exterior design emphasizes a bold, aerodynamic look that also conceals an accommodating rear cargo area with a large, lift-over tailgate. Premium interior styling, appointments and details extend from the passenger compartment all the way through the cargo area. An under-floor storage area in the rear of the vehicle adds functionality, while reversible cargo floor panels accommodate dirty objects.

The Crosstour is available in two trim levels, the Crosstour EX and EX-L, with Real Time™ 4WD also available on the EX-L model. For 2012, new features on the Crosstour EX include auto on/off headlights, a rearview camera, Bluetooth®1HandsFreeLink® and USB audio interface. Two new colors are also available on all Crosstour models: Twilight Blue Metallic replaces Glacier Blue Metallic, and Basque Red Pearl replaces Tango Red Pearl.

The Crosstour comes standard with a 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) for power and efficiency. The engine produces 271 horsepower at 6,200 RPM and 254 lb-ft. of torque at 5,000 RPM, while achieving an EPA-rated city/highway/combined fuel economy of 18/27/21 mpg2 on 2WD models. Meanwhile the Crosstour EX-L with Real Time™ 4WD delivers an EPA-rated city/highway/combined fuel economy rating of 18/26/21 mpg2.

To maximize efficiency, the engine’s VCM cylinder deactivation system is programmed to run on 3, 4 or 6 cylinders, based on current power requirements, and a technologically advanced 5-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment. For true utility-vehicle capability, the Crosstour provides 6.2 inches of maximum ground clearance in addition to the available Real Time™ 4WD system.

Besides its new-for-2012 auto on/off headlights, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and USB audio interface, standard features on the Honda Houston Crosstour EX include projector-beam headlights, fog lights, 17-inch aluminum wheels with P225/65R17 all-season tires, a moonroof, body-colored power side mirrors with defrost, chrome door handles, auto up/down driver and front passenger side windows and rear privacy glass. Inside are dual-zone automatic air conditioning with second-row ventilation, a 360-watt AM/FM 6-disc audio system with seven speakers, steering wheel-integrated audio controls, a compass and outside temperature indicator, cruise control, an easy fold-down 60-40 split rear seatback, a hidden removable utility box and more.

Crosstour EX-L adds 18-inch aluminum wheels with P225/60R18 all-season tires, leather-trimmed seating surfaces with heated front seats, a memory driver-side seat and memory side mirrors with reverse tilting capability, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, Kevlar® cone audio speakers, front aluminum dome-type tweeter speakers, an auto day/night dimming rearview mirror, a HomeLink™ transmitter and a cargo privacy cover.

The Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System3 and the Real Time™ 4WD mentioned above are available together or separately on the Crosstour EX-L. The Navigation system includes a rearview camera with guidance lines integrated into the display.

Safety technology includes the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, a Honda-exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. Additional safety equipment on the Crosstour includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, driver’s and front passenger’s side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, and active front seat head restraints.

The Crosstour is assembled in Ohio at the Honda of America Mfg., Inc., East Liberty Auto Plant using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

07/01/2011 – Torrance, CA
The 2012 model year continues to gain momentum as American Honda Houston Motor Company announced today the next release of new models. This latest update brings a quartet of off-road motorcycles, two sport ATVs and one popular and enduring street bike. These new-model releases include the popular CRF450X and CRF250X for off-road enthusiasts; the family-friendly CRF230F and CRF150F trail bikes; the much-acclaimed TRX450R and TRX250X sport ATVs; and the Rebel®, one of the best small-displacement bikes to grace American roadways.

“This latest release highlights a variety of machines available to Honda customers,” said Powersports Press Manager Bill Savino. “Here we have a big assortment of off-road machines suitable for the entire family, plus a great beginner bike that has given thousands of street riders a friendly introduction to our sport. And this isn’t everything for 2012; we’ll have even more good news to share about additional new releases coming out soon.”
More detailed information and images of Honda’s model line can be found on www.powersports.honda.com or see your local Honda powersports dealer.

- CRF450X: World-Class Credentials
The CRF450X has won the world-renowned and ultra-rugged Baja 1000 and Baja 500 races multiple times—enough to rightfully earn its reputation as the King of Baja. But even if you’re planning a weekend of relaxed trail riding rather than aiming for a prestigious off-road racing victory, the CRF450X offers equally impressive credentials for a weekend of fun rides. Availability: October

- CRF250X: Impeccably Balanced Performance
It’s the machine that delivers a just-right balance of light weight, exemplary handling and tractable four-stroke power: the CRF250X. This handy, agile and thoroughly capable off-road mount flat-out sets the standard for 250-class performance among the off-road crowd whether you’re into racing or just fun-time explorations through the woods. Availability: October

- CRF230F: Playbike-Oriented Excellence
Within the realm of recreation riding, the CRF230F stands tall: motorcycling magazines the world over have complimented this midsized off-road machine for its many playbike-oriented attributes. With the ease of electric starting, it’s the perfect match for all-day fun and off-road adventure. Availability: November

- CRF150F: Sized Right for Beginners and More
Not too big, and not too small—the CRF150F is just the right size to suit beginning riders and experienced adults equally well. And thanks to its moderate chassis dimensions, easy-to-use four-stroke power, electric starter and more rider-friendly features, the CRF150F is just the ticket for entering, exploring and thoroughly enjoying the world of off-road fun. Availability: November

- TRX450R: High-Performance Standout
The TRX450R stands tall as one mighty, impressive machine, having won races in virtually every form of ATV racing, as well as racking up a string of exciting wins in the grueling Baja 1000. At the same time, these remarkable performance credentials also keep the TRX450R at the top of the popularity charts for recreational riders too. Availability: September

- TRX250X: Perennial Midsized Favorite
Aggressive, race-inspired styling gives the TRX250X a distinctly sporty look. In addition, new Maxxis Razr Vantage tires add to the aggressive image while adding improved sport performance. And thanks to a torquey powerplant and Honda’s innovative and easy-to-use SportClutch™ plus other great features, this fun-to-ride midsized machine remains a favorite among beginners as well as longtime riders. Availability: TBD

- Rebel: Longstanding Entry to Street Riding
For years and years, the Rebel has remained a favorite among entry-level street riders—and for good reason. Its stylish good looks maintain an enduring appeal, it’s comfortable, light in weight and easy to maneuver, gets great gas mileage, and its durability has grown to legendary proportions. Whether you’re running errands around town or heading out of town for a riding adventure, the Rebel serves as a great riding partner. Availability: September

About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, MUVs and personal watercraft in the US. American Honda’s Motorcycle Division conducts the sales, marketing and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to www.powersports.honda.com.

©2011 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved.

06/23/2011 – TORRANCE, Calif.
The Honda brand earned its best-ever ranking in J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) for 2011, finishing second among all surveyed brands, including premium makes, the company announced today. Honda Houston also led the industry with seven models earning the highest initial quality ranking in their respective segments, including its top-selling Accord and Civic models.

The Acura brand finished third overall in the 2011 IQS.
In the manufacturing realm, the 2011 study recognized three Honda plants for superior quality, including Honda’s newest U.S. auto plant in Greensburg, Ind. Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, producing the Civic Sedan, was one of only three plants around the world to earn the Platinum Plant Quality Award. The Suzuka, Japan plant, line 1, earned a Silver Plant Quality Award, Asia Pacific (tie), for production of Civic and Insight, while the East Liberty, Ohio, plant took home a Bronze Plant Quality Award, North/South America, for production of the Accord Crosstour, CR-V and Element.

“Creating products of the highest quality and value is the foundation of our business, and it begins with a deep understanding of the customer,” said Tetsuo Iwamura, president & CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “These results are an important demonstration of our focus on the customer and the tireless efforts put forth by Honda associates throughout our organization—in R&D, in manufacturing and in sales—to exceed their high expectations of Honda and Acura.”

Of the seven Honda models earning the highest initial quality score in their segment – the most segment leaders of any brand – five were manufactured in North America: the Civic (compact car); the Element (compact crossover SUV—followed by the CR-V in second place); the Accord (midsize car); the Accord Crosstour (midsize crossover SUV); and the Ridgeline (midsize pickup). Those five models were joined on the 2011 segment leader list by the Insight hybrid (compact car, tie) and Honda Fit (sub-compact car).

Honda automobiles made in North America are produced using domestic and globally-sourced parts.

J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality Study serves as an important tool for consumers in evaluating the quality and design of new vehicles. Since 1987, J.D. Power and Associates has been surveying owners to measure the initial quality of new vehicles after the first 90 days of ownership.

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

07/14/2011 – TORRANCE, Calif.
Honda announced today that it has achieved one of the most important targets in the company’s longstanding “Green Factory” initiative in North America: zero-waste-to-landfill. Ten of 14 Honda manufacturing plants in North America are now operating with zero waste to landfill, while the remaining four plants are functioning with “virtually zero” waste to landfill.

Honda Houston Manufacturing of Alabama, in Lincoln, Ala., became the first zero-waste-to-landfill auto plant in North America at the outset of production in 2001, setting off an industry-leading trend within the company. Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, in Greensburg, Ind., also started production as a zero-waste-to-landfill plant in 2008.

Waste sent to landfills has been dramatically reduced at Honda auto plants throughout North America—from 62.8 pounds of industrial waste to landfills for every automobile produced in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001(FY2001), to an estimated 1.8 pounds per automobile in the current fiscal year 2012. Among all of its 14 plants in North America, Honda now sends less than one-half of 1 percent of all operating waste to landfills. Remaining waste product is either recycled or used for energy recovery.

“This is an important achievement and a tremendous reflection on the commitment and continuous effort of Honda associates throughout our company over the past 10 years to reduce waste from Honda’s production operations,” said Karen Heyob, manager at Honda of America, Mfg, Inc., who is responsible for Honda’s green factory initiatives in North America. “This is an even more significant achievement when you consider that we also produce in North America the engines and transmissions that power our products.”

Since the establishment of zero-waste-to-landfill production in its Alabama plant in 2001, Honda has undertaken a major initiative at plants throughout the region to eliminate landfill waste. To understand what comprised each plant’s landfill waste, Honda associates went “Dumpster diving,” looking at the composition of the waste material resulting from all of its production activities.

On the basis of these findings and subsequent investigations, Honda associates at all 14 plants in North America have identified and implemented hundreds of waste-reduction and waste-recycling initiatives. These initiatives run the gamut, from the reduction of offal (metal scrap) in stamping processes, to improved parts packaging for ease of recycling, to the minimization of paper and plastic waste from cafeterias. As a result of these efforts over the past 10 years, the company has prevented an estimated 4.4 billion pounds of waste material from being sent to landfills, which is equivalent to the amount of household waste produced by 2.8 million Americans, roughly the population of Chicago, in a single year.

Many of the waste-reduction and recycling activities were undertaken through Honda’s associate involvement programs, including its “NH Circle” quality circles, where teams of associates throughout the company engage in an annual competition to improve Honda’s value to its customers and society, with a strong focus on efficiency, cost and waste reduction.

“There are hundreds of stories of associate innovation and challenging spirit that add up to this significant advancement in our commitment to more environmentally responsible manufacturing,” added Heyob. “And while it is an important milestone, it is not the end of the race for Honda, as we continue to work to eliminate waste, improve energy efficiency and reduce the total environmental footprint of producing Honda products in North America.”

Examples of Honda associates’ waste reduction initiatives include:
• Engine plants in Ohio, Alabama and Canada are reusing virtually all leftover sand from aluminum and ferrous metal casting operations. In FY2010, the three plants recycled a total of 9,400 tons of sand, which is used as mulch and landscaping material, and in concrete products.
• No steel scrap from North American manufacturing operations has been going to landfills. In one example of Honda’s effort to reduce steel scrap, in FY2009, the Marysville Auto Plant initiated a program to reduce the amount of offal by reducing the size of steel sheets used to stamp new body parts. The program, which significantly reduces the environmental impact of transporting and recycling the steel, is now being adopted by other Honda factories in North America including the Canada, Indiana and East Liberty, Ohio, auto plants, and is being considered by other Honda plants around the world.
• In FY2008, Honda Power Equipment in Swepsonville, N.C., initiated a closed-loop system for recycling aluminum scrap from the machining trimming process, melting the scrap into ingots that are recycled into die-cast operations.
• The East Liberty, Ohio, auto plant built a recycling bin for bolts, other unused fasteners and parts packaging, enabling the factory to recycle more than 22 tons of steel each year.
• Within the past year, all four Honda plants in Ohio completed their initiative to eliminate more than 500 metric tons of cafeteria waste produced annually. The plants joined with other Honda plants in North America in transitioning to washable dishware and to disposing of solid waste through composting, recycling and energy recovery.
• The Timmonsville, S.C., powersports plant, which produces all-terrain vehicles, recycles hard plastic foam, sheet plastic foam and other recyclable plastics from incoming parts shipments, diverting more than 130 tons of plastic from landfills each year.
• The Marysville and East Liberty, Ohio, plants also recently began washing and reusing thousands of plastic caps each day that are used to protect parts during shipping.

The only two remaining landfill waste streams in all of Honda’s North American production activities are: (1) paper, plastic and food waste from associate break rooms and cafeterias at Honda’s Mexico automobile and motorcycle plants, where there exists no more environmentally responsible means of disposal; and (2) a byproduct of the paint pretreatment process for aluminum body panels at both the East Liberty and Marysville, Ohio, auto plants, which, due to EPA regulations, is non-recyclable. Honda is working with the EPA to identify an alternative means of disposal.

About Honda’s Environmental Initiatives
Honda is a leader in the development of leading-edge technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions, including vehicles powered by advanced gasoline engines and natural gas-powered engines, as well as gasoline-electric hybrid, battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell-electric vehicles. In 2010, Honda was named America’s “Greenest Automaker” for the fifth consecutive time by the Union of Concerned Scientists. The award is earned by the company with the lowest combined score of its smog-forming and greenhouse gas emissions (primarily CO2) in its U.S. automobile fleet. Further, Honda earned the #1 ranking on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy list of the “Greenest Vehicles” for the 11th year in a row in 2011.

In addition to its ongoing efforts to improve the environmental performance of its products, Honda has worked to reduce the environmental footprint of its manufacturing operations in North America, where the company has the capacity to produce more than three million Honda and Acura products each year, which are comprised of automobiles (including engines and transmissions), all-terrain vehicles, general-purpose engines and power equipment products. These “Green Factory” initiatives include efforts to increase energy efficiency, reduce emissions and waste, and enhance recycling activity.
Through its “Green Purchasing” program, Honda also encourages and supports activities by its more than 600 North American OEM parts and material suppliers to adopt green factory programs.

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

Published June 20, 2011 by Ben Knight

Honda has adopted a global environmental slogan — Blue Skies for Our Children — to inspire our company to achieve new targets we have established to reduce CO2 emissions from our products and the operations that produce them. These words arouse strong emotions in Honda engineers, and take me back to a time four decades ago when the same phrase served as the rallying cry for Honda’s first effort to tackle a challenging environmental issue.
I joined Honda Houston as a young engineer in 1976. What attracted me, as with so many Honda customers and fans, was a brand that showed a can-do spirit in creating something the rest of the auto industry argued couldn’t be done – a vehicle with cleaner emissions and high fuel economy that was also fun to drive.

This vehicle was the Honda Civic – and it had something else that was truly revolutionary — CVCC engine technology, for Compound Vortex Combustion Controlled. That’s a mouthful of complex engineering, but what CVCC helped create is simpler — a lean burn engine that made Civic the first car to meet the stringent tailpipe emissions standards of the U.S. Clean Air Act without the need for after treatment of the exhaust. The Civic CVCC was also #1 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) very first list of the most fuel efficient vehicles in America.

Based on his own belief in the importance of advancing mobility to address the issue of environmental sustainability, Honda founder Soichiro Honda pulled our company out of Formula One racing in 1969 in order to devote Honda’s full engineering resources to developing advanced environmental technologies. He then challenged Honda engineers to create a cleaner-burning engine to address air pollution – which was then the most serious environmental sustainability issue facing the automobile industry.

Honda engineers were reading reports about the serious impact pollution would have on the health of children. A group of doctors in Japan published a report about high levels of lead in the blood streams of children. The Club of Rome, founded in Italy in April 1968 by a small international group of academics, scientists, government and industry leaders, focused global attention on negative environmental consequences, forecasting limits to human expansion within less than 100 years if no major change in society occurred. In 1970, Congress passed the 1970 Clean Air Act, creating stringent new emissions standards and the U.S. government created the EPA.

Mr. Honda saw this as a great way to compete against more established companies. But Honda engineers suggested that their real motivation and goal was to ensure “Blue Skies for Our Children,” in other words, to ensure the future of mobility and the health of the planet for future generations. This phrase became the team’s rallying cry in the effort to find and develop technology that could improve air quality.

Mr. Honda was proud that his engineers had looked at this challenge as more than a competitive challenge. With a great deal of passion and energy, the team of Honda engineers addressed the challenge of sustainable mobility. And this led to the breakthrough with the CVCC engine that powered the Honda Civic. When I learned of these events, it helped deepen my appreciation that the purpose of our technology was to help people and society. That certainly made Honda a company I wanted to contribute my best efforts to.
In the ensuing years, Honda continued to advance its engine technologies. Over the past four decades, we led the global auto industry in meeting a series of increasingly stringent tailpipe emissions requirements, starting with the first gasoline-powered Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) in the hands of consumers, sparking an era of fundamental improvements to air quality. Of course, we were proud to be first, but Honda’s strategy for reducing emissions was something of our gift to the world. We provided the auto industry with a practical and economical pathway to reducing exhaust emissions on a broad scale that no one thought possible. At the same time, we have been a consistent leader in fuel-efficiency, topping fuel-economy rankings for 22 of the past 36 years
Today, the challenge of environmental sustainability is much broader than air pollution – encompassing numerous energy and environmental issues, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (primarily CO2) that contribute to global climate change and the transition from fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy, among other issues.

But I am excited that Honda’s environmental vision to pursue the joy of mobility and a sustainable society where people can enjoy life continues to be inspired by the original rallying cry of Honda engineers – something that Honda associates throughout our company embrace on a daily basis. Once again, our effort to achieve a challenging target to reduce CO2 emissions is guided by our mission to leave “Blue Skies for Our Children.”

Ben Knight
Vice President
Honda R&D Americas, Inc.