Global Honda | Began Not As a Business, But As a Dream

“We only have one future and it will be made of our dreams, if we have the courage to challenge convention.” —Soichiro Honda (founder)

Honda began not as a business, but as a dream. Over 70 years later, Honda’s significant and ongoing investment in R&D has seen an array of revolutionary new technologies created, many of which are used to make our vehicles safer and better to drive every day.

Robotics & Mobility

ASIMO, which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility was the world’s first humanoid robot. Today the latest version of ASIMO is able to climb stairs, walk, run at nearly four miles an hour, grasp objects, kick a football and interact with people, responding to voice commands and hand gestures. Once ASIMO is perfected, Honda hopes that the robot could be used in a wide variety of ways – helping the physically disabled or elderly, or even being sent into dangerous environments such as toxic spills, earthquakes or fire, as a first responder.

The research and development division, whose mission is to study human mobility have also developed a computerised leg harness that assists people who have difficulty walking or who are learning to walk again after an illness or injury. This Walking Assist harness supports their strides/steps in response to information obtained from hip sensors.

In the ongoing development and research into mobility, Honda’s engineers have created ground-breaking technologies which have been incorporated in our cars.

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Electric Vehicles

Electric Vehicle development has been part of Honda’s Research and Development for many years. It makes sense, after all the world’s first production hybrid fuel/electric vehicle was developed by Honda in 1999.

The unveiling of the Honda ePrototype at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019 signalled a new era for Honda. With this dedicated battery-electric retro hatch getting a great deal of attention from the world's media and consumers, Honda announced a commitment to electrification — all new Hondas in Europe will be electrified by 2025.

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle

Not only did Honda build the world's first production electric/fuel hybrid, the Insight, in 1999, they also built the world’s first fuel cell-powered vehicle, the FCX Clarity in 2002.

It runs on hydrogen, emits no pollutants only water, has a driving range of nearly three hundred miles, and is currently in use in several countries including Japan and the United States.

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Honda Racing

Soichiro Honda believed that racing was the best training ground for engineers and designers. A real testing laboratory where the rubber truly met the road, it subjected cars, engines, tyres and drivers to stresses and forces that a simulated environment could not.

Since the 1960’s Honda have entered and won hundreds of Formula 1, Indycar and motorbike races. Between 2006 and 2011 every car in the 33 strong starting field in the Indianapolis 500 was powered by a Honda engine. This was the only time in Indycar history that no car retired from the field due to engine failure or an engine-related problem.

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The Honda Jet

It began with a design deemed impossible: a unique ‘over the wing’ engine mount to create more usable cabin space and reduce drag at higher speeds.

This lightweight, six-person, fuel efficient aircraft, is made entirely of composite materials and unique design features .

A breakthrough in aeronautics, the HondaJet is now the highest flying, quickest, most fuel efficient and spacious light jet in its class.

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Safety

Honda leads the field in automobile safety research.

With two of the world’s most advanced indoor crash safety research facilities, an unprecedented variety of multi-directional tests are conducted to provide Honda with a deeper understanding of what happens in real world collisions.

From this, Honda has introduced many new technologies that advance safety in our vehicle range today.

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Solar Energy

Some day soon you may be able to switch to Honda as your home’s energy supplier.

Our Home Energy System will not only refuel your car but power the rest of your home as well.

It uses solar panels and a clever little hydrogen fuel cell. So you’ll be able to fill up the car and the house, too.