Japon

Honda

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese automaker founded on September 24, 1948 in Hamamatsu by Soichiro Honda (1906-1991), an engineer and entrepreneur, with an initial capital of one million yen. The company has its roots in the Honda Technical Research Institute, established in 1946, which initially produced auxiliary engines mounted on bicycles in post-war Japan. In 1949, Takeo Fujisawa joined the company as general manager and became Soichiro Honda's lifelong partner, handling the commercial and financial side while the latter focused on engineering. As early as 1959, Honda became the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer, a position it has held ever since. The automaker entered the automobile business in 1963 and was among the leading Japanese manufacturers by the early 1980s. Soichiro Honda remained deeply involved until he stepped down from management in 1973, after which he continued as an advisor and was named supreme advisor in 1983. The brand built a worldwide reputation around engine technology, motorsport (Formula 1) and an engineering philosophy focused on performance and efficiency. Honda established a strong North American presence very early on. In 1986, Honda of Canada Manufacturing began production in Alliston, Ontario, becoming the first Japanese automaker to build a plant in Canada, assembling the Accord. In the United States, Honda has been producing on a large scale in Ohio and Indiana since the 1980s. The company remains independent and is not owned by any major foreign group; it also oversees its luxury division, Acura, launched in 1986 in North America. Over the decades, Honda has diversified its activities beyond automobiles and motorcycles: outboard motors, generators, power equipment, robotics (the ASIMO robot) and even business aviation with HondaJet. Today, the automaker is refocusing its strategy on hybrids after scaling back its purely electric ambitions in North America, while investing heavily in a future line of electric vehicles and batteries in Ontario.

ActivePerformanceÉlectrique / hybrideCamion / utilitairePopulairesJaponaises

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Country of origin Japon

Year founded 1948

Owner group Honda Motor Co.

Main region Asie

Current status Active

Listed models 5

History

History of Honda

1948

Public founding or origin of Honda.

1976

Accord: launch or first listed period.

1972

Civic: launch or first listed period.

1995

CR-V: launch or first listed period.

2001

Fit/Jazz: launch or first listed period.

1990

NSX: launch or first listed period.

Technologies

Technologies, innovations and platforms

Honda's technical signature is built on its high-efficiency gasoline engines and on the e:HEV two-motor hybrid system, launched in 2020, which combines fuel economy with dynamic response without a conventional transmission. The next generation of e:HEV integrates the S+ Shift function and an electric all-wheel-drive system (E-AWD) that can be shared between hybrids and electric vehicles, targeting a fuel-economy improvement of more than 10%. On the safety side, the Honda Sensing suite (lane-keeping assist, emergency braking, adaptive cruise control) is offered as standard on most models, along with the expanded Honda Sensing 360 version. Modern platforms, such as the Honda architecture shared by the Civic and CR-V, prioritize rigidity, weight reduction and stability. Honda is currently refocusing its resources on hybrid electrification, with around fifteen new hybrid models planned by 2030, while also preparing a future in-house electric platform.

L'Accord actuelle est offerte avec un moteur turbo essence et une version hybride e:HEV à deux moteurs alliant sobriété et performance. Elle repose sur une plateforme moderne et intègre de série la suite de sécurité Honda Sensing, incluant régulateur adaptatif et freinage d'urgence.La Civic récente propose des moteurs essence atmosphériques et turbocompressés, ainsi qu'une version hybride e:HEV. Elle partage l'architecture Honda avec le CR-V, met l'accent sur la rigidité et l'allègement, et reçoit de série la suite Honda Sensing.Le CR-V est offert avec un moteur turbo essence et une version hybride e:HEV à deux moteurs. Il propose la transmission intégrale, repose sur l'architecture Honda moderne et intègre de série la suite de sécurité Honda Sensing.Le Fit/Jazz est mû par de petits moteurs essence économes, certains marchés offrant une version hybride. Sa conception privilégie le poids contenu, l'espace intérieur optimisé et, sur les générations récentes, des aides à la conduite Honda Sensing.La première NSX combinait un V6 central en aluminium et une conduite affûtée. La seconde génération adopte un V6 biturbo de 3,5 L épaulé par trois moteurs électriques et la transmission intégrale SH-AWD, développant 573 ch dans une architecture hybride sophistiquée.

Brand image

Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses

Positioning

A Japanese mainstream automaker renowned for reliability, efficiency and resale value, with a strong North American manufacturing base.

Reputation

Honda enjoys an enviable reputation for reliability and longevity. In Consumer Reports' 2025 survey, the brand earned a reliability score of 59 out of 100, above the average for mainstream brands, and its sedans and SUVs often rank at the top of road tests. The 2025 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study gave it 179 problems per 100 vehicles, better than the industry average. Used Hondas rank among the most reliable over 5 and 10 years. Resale value is a strong selling point, particularly for the Civic and CR-V, which lowers the total cost of ownership. The general perception remains that of practical, well-built and durable vehicles.

Strengths

Honda stands out for its recognized reliability, excellent resale value and carefully engineered powertrains, notably its efficient e:HEV hybrids. The brand offers the Honda Sensing safety suite as standard, a versatile lineup spanning sedans, compact SUVs and minivans, and a strong manufacturing presence in North America, ensuring parts availability and service in Quebec.

Points to watch

Honda recently canceled several fully electric vehicle projects in North America, falling behind some rivals on the mainstream EV front. Some buyers find the interiors more understated and the continuously variable transmissions less engaging. Cross-border production exposes the brand to tariff tensions, and a few recent models have been the subject of criticism or recalls on specific components.

Current or active models by market

Accord 1976 - actif berline Civic 1972 - actif compacte CR-V 1995 - actif VUS compact Fit/Jazz 2001 - actif selon marchés citadine polyvalente

Notable past models

NSX

Production and compatibility

Plants, tires and wheels

Production

Honda operates a significant North American industrial network. In Canada, Honda of Canada Manufacturing has been assembling vehicles in Alliston, Ontario, since 1986; the 890-acre site comprises three plants, more than 4,200 employees and an annual capacity of roughly 400,000 vehicles. It produces the Civic and CR-V as well as four-cylinder engines, sold in Canada and exported to the United States. In 2025, part of the CR-V's production is being reallocated to the U.S. plants in Ohio and Indiana to limit exposure to tariffs. Honda has also announced a major investment in Ontario for a future electric-vehicle plant (planned for 2028) and a battery plant in Alliston.

Tires and wheels

Hondas cover a wide range of sizes depending on the model. Compacts like the Civic and the subcompact Fit generally run on small to medium-diameter wheels, while the CR-V and larger SUVs use larger-diameter wheels. Most modern Hondas use a 5-lug bolt pattern common to the brand, which makes it easier to choose replacement wheels and dedicated winter-tire sets. In Quebec, where winter tires are mandatory, a second set of steel or alloy wheels fitted with nordic tires is an economical and practical solution for these vehicles. Always check the exact size, the load and speed ratings as well as the offset listed on the vehicle's placard.