Honda MC Timeline

Honda Motor Company Timeline

1906

Soichiro Honda is born in Hamamatsu, Japan.

1948

Honda Motor Co. Ltd is incorporated.

1949

Honda’s first production motorcycle, the Dream D-type debuted with an air-cooled 98cc 2-cycle single-cylinder engine. It was produced at the Noguchi plant in Hamamtsu-city, Shizuoka.

1958

The Honda Super Cub C100 is introduced 50cc 4-stroke engine. This motorcycle remains in production to this day and is the most produced motor vehicle in history surpassing 100 million units in 2017.

1959

On June 11, 1959, American Honda Motor Co. opens in Los Angeles at 4077 West Pico Blvd.

1961

Honda dominates the 125cc and 250cc classes at the Isle of Mann TT with rider Mike Hailwood.

1969

 

1969 CB750The CB750 is Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.

1970

Dick MannDick Mann wins the Dayonta 200 aboard a CR750 factory-built race bike.

1979

Honda began North American production of motorcycles in 1979, at the Honda of America Mfg., Inc. plant in Marysville, Ohio, where 64 associates began producing the CR250M Elsinore dirt bike. That first motorcycle rolled off the production line on September 10, 1979.

1973

Soichiro Honda (left), founder of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and co-founder Takeo Fujisawa (right), shortly after announcing their retirements as president and executive president, respectively. The pair led Honda from a start-up motorcycle company into a global enterprise focused on multiple forms of mobility, including the best-selling vehicle in the world (Super Cub).

1991

Soichiro Honda dies at age 84 and is buried at Fuji Reien, Suntō-gun, Shizuoka Japan