Honda celebrates building 400,000,000 motorcycles and scooters
Seventy years ago, in a workshop in Hamamatsu, central Japan, a motorcycle was born. But unlike the Christmas story, this was no divine miracle. Instead, it was the result of years of hard work and engineering experimentation by Soichiro Honda, which had seen him attach war-surplus two-stroke portable generator motors to bicycles in an effort to meet the need for affordable post-war transport. In 1948, he founded a 34-employee company with business partner Takeo Fujisawa. The following year, their first motorcycle debuted, powered by a 98cc two-stroke motor.
Legend has it that upon its completion, an employee commented ‘It’s like a dream’, thus christening the very first Honda Dream (D-Type), a moniker that has stuck with the brand in various guises to the present day. Within just 15 years, Honda had grown to become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. Within 50, the manufacturer had celebrated the 100 million-unit milestone (in 1997), before achieving 300 million units sold in 2014.
And in just the past five years, Honda has managed what it originally took fifty years to do, growing production by a huge 100 million, with 2019 marking not only its 70th birthday but the momentous milestone of 400-million motorcycles produced.
In another sign of its growing global domination, 2018 was Honda’s first year of global production in excess of 20 million-units. Among its iconic models are the Super Cub scooter, continent-crossing Africa Twin and the fearsome Fireblade.
The news of Honda’s 400,000,000 motorcycle comes just a few months after Honda celebrated 60 years of motorcycle racing at the 2019 Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, with machines and riders from throughout its illustrious history taking to the hillclimb.
In celebration of this double milestone, Takahiro Hachigo, Honda’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “For 70 years Honda has provided to customers worldwide motorcycles that make life easier and enjoyable. As a result, we have achieved our 400 million-unit milestone.
“I am grateful to all of our customers, and everyone involved in development, manufacturing, sales and service of our products. We will continue to do our best to provide attractive products that meet the needs and dreams of customers worldwide.”
Honda
Motorcycles
Fireblade
Africa Twin
Soichiro Honda
