HONDA The Power of Dreams

Celebrating 50 years of the Honda Technical College, the students of the Honda-owned college in Saitama, Japan, recently undertook a very special challenge – rebuilding a pair of 1975 Honda Civic RS models to take on the 2026 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique. Starting from Reims, in the north of France, the 28th edition of this demanding event took two Honda Civics ...

From the beginning, Honda has always believed that it should make a positive impact on both environment and society, both globally and locally. This philosophy began with founder Soichiro Honda and continues to live on today in the belief that ‘Honda strives to be a company society wants to exist’. Today, the most obvious indication of this philosophy is Honda’s ambitious Triple Action to ZERO ...

Honda’s history in Formula 1 dates back to 1964. At a New Year press conference, company founder Soichiro Honda announced, “Honda will make its Formula 1 debut at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix.” At the time, few people in Japan were aware that Formula 1 represented the highest level of four-wheel racing, and the announcement attracted limited public attention. Nevertheless, it ...

Drivers and teams (constructors) are awarded championship points based on race results, which determine the season champions and overall rankings. In the past, a “best results only” system was used, but today all points scored across the season are added in full to decide both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings. Championship Points allocation depends on the percentage of ...

Formula 1 cars are designed and manufactured using each team’s proprietary technology. The power unit (PU)—the car’s core system—is supplied by a designated PU manufacturer. All components must comply with the detailed regulations defined by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), within which teams and manufacturers apply the latest and highest levels of ...

From the moment the AMR26 broke cover, everyone has been asking what Adrian Newey and the team have been cooking. Formula One's pre-eminent designer puts down his self-propelling pencil to discuss a busy 10 months for Aston Martin Aramco, the philosophy behind our 2026 F1 car, and why Team Principal is just a title. Give the people what they want. When the AMR26...

Orihara has been joining in 2003 as an Automotive Engine Dyno Test Engineer. He was inspired at an early age by watching Honda-powered F1 cars on the TV in his homeland Japan. After a decade working on road car projects, Orihara made the switch to the racing side of the business in 2013, moving to the UK in the process. In 2023, he became the Power Unit Chief Engineer ...

Drivers competing in Formula 1, the highest level of motorsport, must meet strict eligibility requirements. Chief among these is holding a Super Licence. To obtain a Super Licence, a driver must be at least 18 years old, have accumulated 40 or more Super Licence points, and receive final approval from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) after completing medical...

All teams competing in Formula 1 must be constructors. Under the regulations, a constructor is defined as an organization that designs and manufactures its own car (chassis) using proprietary technology. As a result, an F1 team’s core responsibilities include vehicle development and manufacturing, as well as race operations at the circuit. In addition, teams maintain departments ...

Formula 1 regulations consist primarily of Sporting Regulations, which govern competition and race operations, and Technical Regulations, which define the technical specifications of the cars. For 2026, the Technical Regulations will undergo the most significant transformation in F1 history. Under the new rules, Formula 1 cars will be fundamentally redefined. The direction of...

In 2026, Honda will compete in F1 together with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team by supplying the power unit as a factory works partner. This decision represents Honda’s choice to refine its technologies and nurture its people on the world’s most demanding motorsport stage—connecting today’s challenges to the next era. On January 20, 2026, Honda held a press...

The 2026 season will mark a major turning point for Formula 1 as a whole. For Honda, it will also be the start of a new challenge. Honda brought its Formula 1 activities to a close at the end of the 2021 season, and now, at a moment when F1 is being fundamentally reshaped by new regulations, returns to the sport to begin supplying power units to the Aston Martin Aramco...

From the perspective of a development engineer, what do you see as the main challenges and key points of the power units from 2026 onward? “In terms of difficulty—honestly, everything. Other than the basic architecture of a V6 turbo internal combustion engine (ICE), everything is new, so it was essentially a complete reset. The basic structure, such as engine mounting distances...

Formula 1 events follow a format consisting of Free Practice (FP) sessions, Qualifying (Q1–Q3), and the Race. A Grand Prix weekend generally begins on Friday and concludes with the race on Sunday. Free Practice consists of three one-hour sessions: two on Friday and one on Saturday. During these sessions, teams fine-tune car setup, compare on-track data with simulation results, and...

Formula 1 events are known as Grands Prix. The term Grand Prix originates from French and means “grand prize” or “highest award.” The first French Grand Prix was held in 1906, after which the name came to be associated with the highest level of automobile racing. A Formula 1 Grand Prix is organized through the respective roles of three parties: the Fédération Internationale de...

Formula 1 (F1) is the official name for the FIA Formula One World Championship. It is one of the world championships governed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). As of 2026, the FIA oversees four global motorsport world championship series, with Formula 1 positioned as the highest level of automobile racing. In 2026, the Formula 1 World Championship will consist of...

In 1962, not even the word F1 was known in Japan. Driven by the founder of the motorcycle company that had not even sold one car, Soichiro Honda’s fervent passion of not knowing if it is possible but wanting to do it anyway, Honda’s seemingly reckless challenge had begun. Honda first entered F1 at the German Grand Prix in August 1964. This year marks the 60th anniversary since

To achieve its goal of “zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles globally” by 2050, Honda continues to advance a wide range of traffic safety initiatives. As part of these efforts, HVN launched its riding safety activities in 1999, and has donated qualified helmets*1 to first-grade students nationwide and delivered safety-training sessions

Since 2006, Honda has carried out the Honda Beach Clean-Up Activity, an environmental initiative built on the simple promise of “passing on beaches where everyone can walk barefoot to the next generation.” As part of this initiative, Honda paired slow, gentle scenes from these beach clean-up activities with a soothing lo-fi soundtrack to create a two-hour ambient video designed

With podiums and race wins in the AMA Supercross and Motocross categories in 2025, along with being crowned the SuperMotocross 250 champion and representing Japan at the Motocross of Nations this year, you could say it’s been, not only a busy time for Jo Shimoda, but a successful one. From Suzuka, in Japan, the 23 year old was destined to spend a life on two wheels...

The WN7 is an electric motorcycle that delivers a quiet and smooth ride distinct from ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles, while also achieving a high level of riding enjoyment and driving pleasure. Its development concept is “Be the Wind.” It embodies the developers' desire for riders to experience the joy of riding freely like the wind, through its smooth, torque-rich

This concept model aims to deliver the unique value inherent to electric power—distinct from conventional motorcycles—and realize an unprecedented riding experience that no one has yet encountered. This concept model aims to be an unconventional presence, built upon Honda's shared electric motorcycle design theme ‘Precision of Intrinsic Design’ while pursuing a fresh approach

Part 1 traced the journey from the RTL ELECTRIC’s three consecutive wins in JTR to the unexpected setback of zero points in the Trial2 2025 season opener, followed by a major shift in strategy and transition to ‘a deep-reach’ setting, ultimately leading to victory in Round 2, Portugal. Part 2 continues with valuable development insights shared by Hiroyuki Akiyoshi and Yusuke Fukao

Hiroyuki Akiyoshi and Yusuke Fukao from Honda’s Electrification Development Division, Motorcycle and Power Products Eletrification Business Unit shared their stories of the RTL ELECTRIC’s development. Both have supported the project since 2024, when Takahisa Fujinami achieved three consecutive JTR victories riding the RTL ELECTRIC. Many people are involved in this electric bike and project,

The number of traffic collisions resulting in fatalities worldwide continues to rise each year. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) survey, approximately 1.19 million people* lose their lives in traffic accidents annually. This equates to about 3,200 people per day, or one person every 23 seconds. Furthermore, approximately 30% of these fatalities involve motorcycle

The mobility industry is undergoing a once-in-a-century transformation. Honda views this as a second founding period and redefined its global brand slogan in 2023. In line with this, Honda launched the "Worldwide Honda" video project in 2025 to convey the spirit embodied in the slogan through its initiatives around the world. This issue of Honda Stories speaks with Ryusaku Send

To realize the “Zero Environmental Impact Society” by 2050, Honda envisions CO₂ emissions neutrality, 100% utilization of carbon-free energy, and 100% use of sustainable materials*. As part of this activity, Honda has built the wind farm in Brazil and achieved automobile manufacturing using only the electricity generated by this facility. In this article, we introduce Honda’s i

At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, where diverse mobility solutions from new vehicles to future concepts were on display, Honda presented a comprehensive vision of mobility that extends across land, sea, skies, and even space. Centered on automobiles and motorcycles shaped by the Power of Dreams, Honda showcased how it envisions the future. Since its founding, Honda has pursued n

Honda has unveiled its first electric motorcycle, “Honda WN7” (hereinafter “WN7”), in Europe. The WN7 is the production model of the “EV Fun Concept” exhibited at EICMA 2024 in Milan, Italy, and will be exhibited at EICMA 2025 (open to the public from November 6 to 9). The grand concept of the WN7 is “Be the Wind, Listen to the Sounds of Nature, and Feel the Earth.” As an elect

After announcing the EV FUN Concept and EV Urban Concept in 2024, Honda announced the EV Outlier Concept at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 in October 2025. Then, in November 2025, Honda presented the vision of its new electric motorcycle brand alongside the Honda WN7 electric motorcycle at the international motorcycle trade show EICMA 2025 (Milan). The goal is to create EVs that

It has been one year since Honda unveiled its first electric motorcycle sports model, the EV FUN Concept. Now, the production model—the Honda WN7—has finally made its debut at EICMA 2025, one of the world’s largest motorcycle trade show. Born from the desire to create a new relationship between people and mobility, the product concept is “Be the Wind.” How was this concept of c

In the rapidly electrifying global motorcycle market, Honda is leveraging its technological expertise and insights cultivated over many years with internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered motorcycles to take on the challenge of providing electric motorcycle business. In November 2025, at EICMA—the world’s largest motorcycle exhibition held in Milan, Italy—Honda unveiled its ele

In November 2025, Honda unveiled its first electric FUN motorcycle, the Honda WN7, at EICMA 2025, the world’s largest motorcycle show held in Milan, Italy. The WN7’s grand concept is “Be the Wind.” It delivers a new dimension of riding and comfort unique to electric motorcycles while pursuing Honda's signature “Joy of Riding.” This issue of Honda Stories interviews Masatsugu Ta

The BF350, launched on February 23, 2024, is Honda's flagship outboard motor and the first to use a V8 engine. It produces a powerful propulsive force of 350 horsepower from its displacement of 4,952 cm3. The BF350 offers high propulsion thanks to its strong torque, while its newly designed crankshaft achieves outstanding quietness and low vibration. It also boasts class-leading...

The Pokémon Company-supervised Honda Koraidon Project brings together Honda’s passion and technology to realize the near-full-scale Honda Koraidon as a mobility solution. Developers reflect on the process from planning and development to exhibiting Honda Koraidon at Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama* in March 2025. The “Sprinting Build” Koraidon debuted at the Suzuka 8 Hours in summer

In March 2025, Honda Korea established the "Honda Education Center," a safety training facility for motorcycle users. Since its founding, Honda has focused on developing safety technologies and providing safety training based on the principles of "respect for human life" and "proactive safety." Honda aims to achieve zero traffic fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automo

Since launching the HR21 in 1978, its first walk-behind lawn mower, Honda has continued to develop a range of lawn mowers for home use. Honda lawn mowers are popular among people everywhere, and in North America and Europe in particular, thanks to their mowing performance, operability, and safety. In 2012, Honda launched its robotic lawn mower “Miimo” for automated lawn care,

The CR-V is a new-value SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) that Honda launched in 1995. Since then, it has been a best-selling model loved worldwide. As the CR-V reaches its 30th anniversary in 2025, this issue of Honda Stories takes a behind-the-scenes look at the CR-V's development, and introduces the innovations it brought to the industry. In the 1990s, Honda entered the RV (recrea

Honda Aircraft Company (HACI) is responsible for Honda’s aircraft business. A key contributor to HACI’s service quality is the Authorized Service Centers that handle HACI’s after-sales service at 21 locations worldwide. In this issue of Honda Stories, Don Campion, founder of Banyan Air Service, one of HACI’s Authorized Service Centers, and Amod Kelkar, Senior Vice President and

At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, Japan’s largest mobility event held at Tokyo Big Sight, Honda unveiled the prototype of its new SUV, the Honda 0 α, part of the Honda 0 series, for the first time worldwide. Driven by a desire to reach audiences unfamiliar with EVs, Honda designers pursued a minimalist and refined aesthetic. Amidst Honda’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrali

Honda, which began its full-scale entry into the electric motorcycle market in 2024, will make the world premiere of the EV Outlier Concept at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, a co-creation platform for the mobility industry. The concept redefines conventional motorcycle values and presents a new vision for future mobility. Yuya Tsutsumi, who led the project, shares the story behi

The N-ONE e: is an EV designed to be your “e: Daily Partner,” enriching everyday life with joy. Its uniquely clean and quiet ride gently encourages you to head out into town. Designed with a sense of lightness that brings positivity to daily life. A lively form, lovable face, and smooth surface come together to create a design that fits seamlessly into everyday life. The front

In recent years, the landscaping industry in Europe and North America has been facing a growing labor shortage. This has brought new attention to the professional electric autonomous lawn mower market. Honda has begun to challenge this area, unveiling the electric autonomous lawn mower ProZision Autonomous at Equip Exposition 2025, a landscaping industry trade show held in the

CB has always been a brand open to all—never choosing, but striving to be chosen. The benchmark of Honda sport bike evolution, now embodied in the CB1000F. Building on the foundations of carrying forward the CB design language, the dignity of a flagship roadster, and the contrast between strength and lightness, we have redefined the proportions for the modern era. This styling

Honda began research in the space domain in 2019. While working on three projects—a circulative renewable energy system, space robotics, and sustainable rockets—Honda conducted its first sustainable rocket launch and landing test on June 17, 2025, reaching an altitude of nearly 300 meters. The test successfully verified key technologies, including rocket stability during ascent

Honda has pursued road safety for over 60 years, aiming to realize a society free from accidents. In February 2025, it became the first automaker to establish a partnership with the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF). To make transportation safer in emerging nations, Honda is embarking on new challenges. Hideaki Takaishi, General Manager of Honda’s Safety Planning Department, discusse

Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen takes a look at the HondaJet in Italy. From the cockpit to its innovative design, Max shares his impressions of Honda’s advanced light jet.

The Catalan has been at the top of his sport since 2007, with no one able to dethrone him since. He has continued to redefine what’s possible on two wheels, blending supreme technical skill and balance with the relentless drive of a true champion. In fact, this winning streak might never be matched again in this sport. A sport that requires riders to essentially complete an

Eight Year Journey Forges New F1 Legend In 2018, what began with a small step with Toro Rosso would accelerate into a fierce charge toward the pinnacle of F1. In 2019, exhilaration as Red Bull Honda celebrated its first victory. In 2021, Max Verstappen clinches his first World Championship title in a dramatic finale to the season. Triumph drowned in cheers nor darkness in defea

Honda will participate as an Official Partner in the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25(WCH Tokyo 25), the first time the event returns to Tokyo in 34 years. Why is Honda participating? How will it support the event with diverse mobility solutions and technology? And what are the aspirations of Honda Running Team athletes competing in the championships? This issue of Honda

In 2024, Honda launched the N-VAN e:, a commercial mini-EV (electric vehicle) based on the N-VAN, designed as an eco-friendly work vehicle. In September 2025, Honda will launch the N-ONE e: passenger mini-EV as its second mini-EV model. In this issue of Honda Stories, Hideaki Horita, the development manager for the N-ONE e:, discusses the differences from the base N-ONE model,

In 2025, Honda has added to its proprietary Honda e:HEV hybrid system a completely new power unit control technology: Honda S+ Shift. While Honda S+ Shift replicates variations in engine speed reminiscent of a spirited manual transmission drive, its true aim goes beyond. Representing the culmination of Honda’s expertise in power unit control, Honda S+ Shift maximizes driver eng

In India, a rapidly growing and energetic country with a population of over 1.4 billion, the ACTIVA personal commuter has become a popular form of personal mobility since its introduction in 2001. We asked the designers and modelers involved in the design work about the appeal of this scooter, which has achieved a timeless design that stays close to people’s lives through repea

ACURA INTEGRA is a new generation entry model developed as a gateway model to experience the brand's appeal for the first time. It reinterprets the spirit of the first-generation INTEGRA, which debuted in 1986, for the modern era, focusing on sensibility and experience that resonate with millennials who have positive values. Aimed to create a youthful and dynamic exterior desig

PRELUDE means "PRELUDE" or "forerunner” and is a specialty sports car that embodies Honda's commitment to continuous challenge in the era of electrification. Developed under the concept of "UNLIMITED GLIDE," it resonates with users across generations, offering a special feel while remaining close to everyday life. The exterior features sleek proportions and dynamically intersec

Experience the thrill of Honda’s Formula 1 heritage at the 2025 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, part of Monterey Car Week in California. Former F1 driver Takuma Sato brings the legendary Williams Honda FW11 back to life with a stunning run at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. This historic moment connects fans to the golden era of Formula 1 in the 1980s, when Honda-powered m

Experience Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda getting behind the wheel of the all-new Acura RSX Prototype, the dramatically styled premium all-electric SUV that previews Acura’s next-generation EV debuting in 2026. Developed on Honda’s global EV Platform and powered by the revolutionary ASIMO OS, the RSX represents Acura’s bold step into the Software-Defined Vehicle era. Discover ho

In the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix, the Honda RA272 became the first Japanese car to win an F1 race, marking the beginning of Honda's F1 challenge. This is where Honda's motorsports story began. Six decades on, the relentless dedication of the engineers who realized Honda's first victory, the evolution of Honda's F1 cars, its legendary drivers, and the continually honed engine tech

Experience the thrill of Honda’s Formula 1 heritage at the 2025 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, part of Monterey Car Week in California. Former F1 driver Takuma Sato brings the legendary Williams Honda FW11 back to life with a stunning run at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. This historic moment connects fans to the golden era of Formula 1 in the 1980s, when Honda-powered m

The final banked corner, rhythm-heavy high-speed sections, and subtle undulations in the surface — Zandvoort remains one of the most distinctive and technically challenging tracks on the F1 calendar. In this sim-based hot lap, F1 driver Ayumu Iwasa takes us through a full lap of the Dutch GP circuit using F1 25 and the Honda eMS SIM-01. Watch this preview to deepen your underst

This year Honda was once again honored to be part of the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed motoring event in West Sussex, UK, which for 2025 was held from July 10–13. Started in 1993 by the Duke of Richmond, Charles Gordon-Lennox, on his Goodwood estate, the festival offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy everything automotive, from historic motor racing through to the latest

In July 2025, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, an annual motorsports event, was held in Goodwood, West Sussex, UK. Honda participated for the second consecutive year. Not only did Honda showcase a variety of products, including cars and motorcycles, it also conducted a demo run of the Williams Honda FW11, the car that brought Honda its first F1 Constructors’ Championship*1 title

In May 2025, Honda’s global motorcycle production reached a cumulative total of 500 million units. To commemorate this milestone, a ceremony was held on May 22 at Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), Honda’s production and sales company based in India, the world’s largest motorcycle market. 2025 also marks the 25th anniversary of HMSI’s establishment, and the company has su

The EV Fun Concept is Honda’s first electric sports motorcycle designed to offer a new sensation of quiet riding and an emotional feeling unique to electric motorcycles with “riding, turning, and stopping” created by Honda’s long-developed motorcycle technologies.

The EV Urban Concept embodies a vision of near-future mobility that cooperates and resonates with people and society including its minimal and sophisticated styling that seamlessly blends into the urban landscape, in-house developed battery pack, HMI refined for instantaneous recognition and instinctive operation and collaboration with urban area.

This is a teaser movie Honda’s pursuit of technological innovation in the motorcycle field, highlighting the development of the world’s first V3 engine with an electrical compressor. In the film, the shift in background from black to red symbolizes the challenge from the past to the future and glitch effects stimulate the viewer’s curiosity and anticipation, while the combustio

Honda’s Fastport eQuad revolutionizes urban delivery in the United States with a compact, electric cargo vehicle designed for bike lanes. Honda addresses both optics and assimilation. The large , clear windscreen and a see-through cargo space balance the vehicle’s large presence in the bike lane.

The all-new Prelude is scheduled for release in autumn 2025. As the 6th-generation and the first release in 25 years, the Prelude has already generated significant interest prior to its launch. In this issue of Honda Stories, Tomoyuki Yamagami, the development leader for the all-new Prelude, describes the journey to its revival, the challenges faced, and his passion for the Pre

Honda has been focusing on producing models tailored to each market at its Japan-domestic and overseas production sites under the philosophy of “building products close to the customer.” In May 2025, Honda’s global motorcycle production reached the cumulative milestone of 500 million units. In this milestone year, this issue of Honda Stories looks back on the history of Honda’s

In April 2025, a research paper on a "multi-agent AI system" developed using large language models (LLMs*) inspired by Honda’s unique Waigaya culture, was accepted at the international AI conference, ICLR 2025 Workshop Agentic AI. As generative AI technology advances at an unprecedented pace and its potential applications in the automotive industry expand, how was this research

One of Honda’s key initiatives toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is modal shift, which refers to the transition of freight transport from truck to more environmentally friendly rail and ship-based transportation. Honda has successfully reduced CO2 emissions by 74.5% through its modal shift project. This issue of Honda Stories speaks with the team members who worked on

West Africa is a growing market for Honda. In particular, the Republic of Ghana is a prominent market with one of the highest GDPs in West Africa, with a population of approximately 34.12 million, and a land area roughly two-thirds the size of Japan. It is known for its cocoa bean cultivation and mining of precious metals and oil. Honda Motor Southern Africa (Pty.) Ltd. - Ghana

Since launching its first snowthrower, the Snowla HS35 in 1980, Honda has been selling a wide range of snowthrowers, from compact to large models. In 2001, Honda introduced the world’s first hybrid snowthrower, and in 2013 launched a model featuring a coaxial, counter-rotating auger mechanism (Cross-Auger*) capable of handling hard packed snow. Hybrids and Cross-Augers have bec

The iconic Honda car "PRELUDE" returns after a quarter of a century as a bridge to the era of electrification. The goal is to become a next-generation electric specialty sports model that embodies the "joy of driving." Hideaki Uchino, the Creative Director who oversaw the entire design, including the concept, is a huge fan of the PRELUDE series and joined Honda with the ambitio

The PRELUDE, once a sensation as a date car, brought the joy of driving and created exciting moments with partners. Since its debut in 1978, it has captivated countless people and is now making a comeback after about 25 years with electrification technology. Honda’s leading designers have poured their passion into this electric specialty sports model, aiming to embody the next

Once a sensation as a date car, the PRELUDE has brought exciting moments with your partner, along with the joy of driving. Since its debut in 1978, it has captivated countless people and is now making a comeback after about 25 years with electrification technology. Yuuki Higashimori, in charge of interior design, and Kyoko Shibuya, in charge of CMF design (Color, Material, Fini

Takaaki Nakagami was born in February 9, 1992 at Chiba prefecture Japan. He started racing with pocket bike from 4 years old, then to mini bike. From age of 13, he started attending All Japan Championship and became champion at 14 years by winning all the races on GP125, the youngest champion ever. From 16 years old, he joined World GP GP125 with 7 seasons on MotoGP after

As the name suggests, driving simulators are able to reproduce the driving experience. They replicate the feeling of driving to enable various functional verifications, essential for car development, to be conducted as if using an actual car. In addition to being weather-dependent, verifications using actual cars can take a lot of time to swap out car parts and controls. Conduc

The NC750X crossover model—which combines the fun of touring with ease of use in everyday situations such as commuting—has won a Red Dot award in the Product Design competition of 2025’s Red Dot Design Award, a respected international design award. This model has both high practicality and unique aesthetics. It has gathered support from riders all over the world as a crossover

Trials are motorsport events where motorcycles take on obstacles such as crags, steep slopes, and logs. They have a different appeal from the speed races that culminate at MotoGP. Beginning from the 2025 season, Honda is participating full-scale with electric vehicles in the Trial2 class of the Trial World Championship. Let us hear from the designer about the concept that gave

The Kamen Rider (Masked Rider) series, GHOST IN THE SHELL, Tokyo Override: Honda motorcycles have appeared in numerous feature and animated films, from children’s hero TV shows to Hollywood sci-fi blockbusters, providing new points of contact with fans. This issue of Honda Stories delves into the perspectives of Nishimoto, Creative Director/General Manager of the Motorcycle & P

Honda employs XR*1 technology in vehicle development. XR is a collective term for technologies that blend the physical and virtual worlds; namely, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). XR technology can be used to build verification environments that remove the need for prototypes. Development can progress without a physical vehicle, but as if th

More than 27 million Civics have been sold globally, and more than 240,000 units were sold in North America last year. In January 2025, the 11th -generation Civic’s hybrid model for the North American market was named the 2025 North American Car of the Year*1 in the passenger car category. The internal combustion engine (ICE) model of the 11th-generation Civic had already won t

On April 6, 2025, the F1 Japanese Grand Prix was held at the Suzuka Circuit. Leading up to and during the race, events were held in Tokyo, generating a great deal of excitement. This issue of Honda Stories shares an interview with Tsuyoshi Saito, President of Honda Mobilityland Corporation, regarding Honda’s efforts to expand connections between F1 and the Japanese public, and

UMIAILE Co., Ltd., a company aiming to protect a peaceful and prosperous Earth through “visualizing the sea,” was established through Honda’s IGNITION new business creation program. UMIAILE is a startup company launched through Honda to develop and sell the UMIAILE ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicle) small pilotless boat, and analyze and provide ocean observation data the boat col

2025 marks the 60th anniversary of Honda’s first F1 victory in the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. In this issue of Honda Stories, Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), a racing arm Honda, share thoughts on Honda’s passion for F1, the significance of F1 participation, and Honda’s expectation for this season. 2025 is the 60th anniversary of Honda’s first F1 victor

On April 1, 2025, Honda held an initiation ceremony to welcome new Honda associates. The ceremony was held in Tochigi Prefecture, where Honda research & development operations are located. 925 new associates who joined “Team Honda” are now embarking on new challenges as working professionals in order to realize their own dreams. This article introduces the message CEO Mibe conv

With the fairing of NC750X, we realized the bright color and design ability by the plant-based bioplastic “DURABIO™“ as the exterior component of the motorcycle for the first time. Further, while abolishing the painting process for CO2 reductions, and adopting the recycled material for environment impact reductions, it realized the sharp and powerful adventurous styling with wh

Honda completed its indoor all-weather omnidirectional crash test facility, a world first, in April 2000. The facility’s role is to check that vehicles achieve elevated, people-centric collision safety performance. This is realized through repeated collision testing in simulated real-world conditions of accidents that actually occur and by making the collision tests more compre

Dampers are used on automobiles to improve handling stability and support ride comfort by absorbing inputs from the tires and suppressing the transmission of vibration to the car’s body. Honda’s Adaptive Damper System provides a high level of handling stability and ride comfort through independent real-time and continuous control of damping forces on all four wheels in response

Honda’s RC211V won 14 of the 16 rounds in the 2002 season, followed by 15 of the 16 rounds in the 2003 season. From the opening round of the 2002 season, when the top class of the Road Racing World Championship changed to MotoGP, the overwhelming strength of this machine was demonstrated with a win rate of over 90% throughout these two seasons. Honda had a monopoly on the MotoG

Honda’s RC211V racing machine debuted in the 2002 season when the top class of the Road Racing World Championship changed to MotoGP. Honda’s initial goal of development was to create a machine with performance to beat its NSR500. The NSR500 was the most powerful GP500 racer of its time, taking out world titles for seven of the eight seasons from 1994 through 2001. It was equipp

The CIVIC has been a representative Honda model for over 50 years since its launch. As each successive model evolved with the times, the CIVIC has also embodied the very essence of Honda and attracted many fans. The latest model, the 11th generation, has won the North American Car of the Year award twice. We spoke at length with two designers of the CIVIC about their thoughts o

The PRELUDE is returning after a quarter of a century. It has been redefined as a specialty sports model and reborn as a car for enjoying mobility, with a world view expressed through the camouflage design of the development vehicle’s wrapping. Let us hear from the development manager and the designer in charge of wrapping design about the future of a sports car that offers val

Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama, located on the first floor of Honda's Tokyo Aoyama Head Office Building, has nurtured connections with Honda fans and local residents for 39 years, taking shape from founder Soichiro Honda’s wish to make the plaza “a place open to society.” The many memories created at the Welcome Plaza, such as new product launches, F1 machine exhibits, and ride-alo

Honda is leveraging three-dimensional (3D) metal printing technology in development to add new value to its manufacturing processes and products. 3D metal printing enables greater freedom of design not premised on conventional methods of construction. It is suited to quick and efficient manufacturing of one-off items or high-mix, low-volume products, enabling faster and cheaper

The Honda Aoyama Building, Honda’s Tokyo headquarters completed in 1985, will be reconstructed in the spring of 2025. A new headquarters building will be constructed on the same site, to be completed in fiscal 2030. The building embodies philosophies of Honda founders Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa, and Honda’s philosophy of Monozukuri (Manufacturing): to be the most advance

On January 7, 2025 (January 8 JST), CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2025, the world’s largest technology event, opened in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, with more than 140,000 attendees from 160 countries and regions around the world, showcasing cutting-edge technologies such as AI, semiconductors, and software-defined vehicles (SDV). At the event, Honda unveiled two prototypes of the

Equipped with a V8 engine having an output of 350 horsepower, the BF350 is Honda’s flagship outboard motor. It won a Red Dot award in the Product Design competition of the Red Dot Design Award. Tearing down existing mindsets about outboard motor designs, the BF350 was designed to achieve a high-quality experience while being considerate to the environment. It exuberates a pre

Honda aims to achieve “zero fatalities in traffic accidents involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles” worldwide by 2050. In order to achieve this goal, Honda not only needs to evolve vehicles with technologies such as automated driving, but also to educate people around the world about traffic safety. Honda’s Traffic Safety Promotion Operations is leading such activities, wo

Honda vehicles are driven even in extremely cold climates and regions where the heat can be intense. To enable users to drive safely and with peace of mind in such places, Honda needs to make sure its vehicles will perform. Recreating the conditions of harsh usage environments in its test facilities, Honda carries out tests to determine whether electric vehicle batteries perfor

In December 2024, Honda’s automobile production plant in Ghana, West Africa, completed its first year of operation. The Ghana Plant began production with the HR-V compact SUV for the West Africa region, which Honda positions as a growth market. This issue of Honda Stories introduces the journey to date, and the local associates’*1 daily challenges and achievements. Honda positi

Honda 0 SUV, a prototype of the first model in the Honda 0 Series, a mid-size SUV to be introduced to the North American market from the first half of 2026, was revealed to the world for the first time at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. An update on the development of the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX)*, which will embellish on-board experience, was also provi

The environment surrounding automobiles is now characterized by a trend toward electrification with the goal of realizing carbon neutrality, as well as growing expectations for so-called “software-defined vehicles (SDVs).” Such SDVs integrate intelligent and IT technologies and continue to advance in functions and performance even after the customer purchases the vehicle. The A

Honda vehicles are driven in various regions all over the world. In some places, the temperature drops below minus 20 degrees Celsius in winter. Some areas reach altitudes above 3,000 meters. On-location field testing to confirm that vehicles perform as intended is essential for ensuring that Honda users can feel reassured about driving in such harsh environments. However, it t

Toward a carbon-neutral society, Honda created an electric scooter which enables more people to enjoy the freedom of mobility. While giving a friendly impression with its simple yet sophisticated styling, including a flat floor that enhances the ease of use for more customers, the EM1 e: offers a quiet and comfortable ride with low vibration. The EM1 e: is powered by the easily

The S500 was Honda’s first passenger car, and it was directly followed by its successor model, the S600. Both models influenced how Honda subsequently made cars. Sixty years later, how have Honda’s sports cars evolved? The designer in charge of the S2000’s packaging and a young designer who will lead the next generation look at this question together.

Ayrton Senna was a legendary racing driver from Brazil, known in Japan as the “Prince of the Speed of Sound.” On May 1, 1994, a tragic accident at the San Marino Grand Prix took Senna away. In 2024, 30 years after the Brazilian legend’s passing, Kusaka Engineering, which specializes in producing engine scale models, selected the RA100 E as its first Honda engine model. The engi

Ashirase Inc. was established as the first business venture project to originate from IGNITION, Honda’s new business creation program, to develop “Ashirase,” a shoe-mounted navigation device to help the visually-impaired walk. A new model, “Ashirase 2,”exceeded 300 units in its initial production run, succeeding in mass-production. This issue of Honda Stories provides through i

EV Fun Concept and EV Urban Concept are the new proposals of EV motorcycles that aim for expanding each person’s possibility while releasing the freedom of movement to more people for the goal to achieve the carbon neutrality through every product and company activity by 2050 that Honda aims for. The intrinsic and sophisticated design that will be created with refining the fun

PCX that is the best seller model of small motorcycle commuter, it further evolved with aiming for the next generation global standard model ahead of the times. With the elegant and beautiful mono form body and high practicability, PCX has gained the popularity in global. While inheriting the originality, with “Beautiful and Powerful” as a concept, it aimed for the new styling

In 1990, Honda opened its Takasu Proving Ground in the town of Takasu (Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido). Located to the north of Asahikawa City, Takasu receives a lot of snowfall, even by Hokkaido standards. In winter, the cold is extreme, sometimes dropping below minus 20 degrees Celsius. Snow falls from November to April, almost half the year. Takasu was chosen as the site for a ...

A proving ground is a testing facility where vehicles under development are put through extensive tests to fine-tune the technologies and the vehicles themselves prior to mass production. The actual vehicles are driven within faithfully recreated real-world environments and tested under harsh conditions to check basic running, turning and stopping performance. Results ...

Honda split its research and development function from its sales and marketing function to create an independent division. The change was made to maintain and expand the company’s approach to manufacturing since foundation, that “Utilizing our technology to help people.” Development at the time of founding was led by the genius of one man, Soichiro Honda, but to ensure the comp

The 3rd FREED were created based on three core values of “forms and sizes realizing easiness to handles”, “ease-of-uses and useful layouts” and “secure and comfortable functions with which we can feel peace in our minds” while cherishing thoughts of considering people which we have been cultivating up to now. AIR With momentums and solid feeling moving forward and volumes aroun

Honda has a long history of taking on challenges in the areas of motorcycle and automobile motorsports. At the heart of these efforts is Honda’s spirit of taking on new challenges without fear of failure, a philosophy that the company has followed since it was founded. The belief is that allowing and then reflecting on failures leads to progress. While not doing something means not...

Honda first competed in the Formula 1 World Championship using a chassis and engine the company itself developed in 1964. The company had only just started manufacturing four-wheeled vehicles, having launched the T360 mini truck in 1963, the year of its 15th anniversary. Honda made its first F1 appearance on August 2, 1964, entering the RA271 in round six of the championship...

In May 2013, Honda announced its participation in Formula 1 from 2015 as a power unit supplier in a joint project with McLaren. New power units to be developed would need to be designed and developed with the aim of improving competitiveness of the whole car in a technical collaboration with body developer McLaren. With a significant change in engine regulations...

Rather than being unrestricted, the development of power units for Formula 1 racing is governed by regulations. In 2014, the F1 adopted regulations that restricted fuel flow to a maximum of 100 kg/h to reflect the global spread of increasing environmental awareness. This meant that development had to focus on how to generate the most energy from a limited supply of fuel. In...

Fuels used in F1 racing cars are strictly regulated in terms of components and properties. However, it is still possible to develop fuels independently within specified ranges. Honda started using rapid combustion from its RA618H Spec 3 power units introduced for the Russian Grand Prix, the 16th round of the 2018 season (Evolution of Technologies Boasting the Ultimate Combustion ...

Since 2014, F1 power units have comprised a 1.6-liter V6 direct-injection single-turbo engine and two types of energy recovery system. One of those energy recovery systems is the MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit - Kinetic), a kinetic energy recovery system connected to the crankshaft with the main task of converting kinetic energy into electrical energy. Regulations specify a ...

Batteries store electrical energy generated by the MGU-K kinetic energy recovery system and MGU-H heat energy recovery system. In F1 regulations, this is referred to as the Energy Store (ES), which covers the full system of battery cells and peripheral devices such as the inverter. Regulations specify a maximum voltage of 1,000 V for the ES. Installation is also covered by ...

Honda’s e:HEV original two-motor hybrid system realizes elevated levels of both environmental and driving performance, reflecting a commitment to motor and engine efficiency. The system continues to evolve as a core technology in the electrification of Honda vehicles. The next generation of e:HEV systems will further enhance environmental performance and the sophisticated and ...

Honda has been taking a multifaceted approach to address the global environmental challenge of reducing CO2 emissions from its products and corporate activities. Honda was one of the first companies to recognize the potential of hydrogen and has been conducting research and development of fuel cell technologies for more than 30 years. By advancing its fuel cell system, Honda wi

Honda aims to develop mobility for future generations by creating a joy and freedom of mobility that enables people to transcend the constraints of time and place, and augment their every possibility. As part of these efforts, it is focusing on remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to act as teleoperated unmanned underwater vehicles. The ROVs would be used in marine environments to

Honda’s CiKoMa ride-in micro-mobility vehicle and WaPOCHI micro-mobility robot, are developed for solving issues such as transportation in areas suffering from driver shortage due to decreasing population, and door-to-door mobility for families with small children and for senior citizens. In cooperation with Joso City, Ibaragi Prefecture, Japan, Honda kicked off technology demo

To serve people worldwide with the “joy of expanding their life’s potential,” Honda has been striving to lead the advancement of mobility and enable people everywhere in the world to improve their daily lives, while also aiming to realize a collision-free society. As one of the initiatives toward our goals, Honda has been working on micro-mobility technologies powered by CI (Co

As a support system for handling boats, Advanced Shiphandling Assist Technology makes mobility on the water as much fun as driving a car. By supporting docking and trailer loading operations, which are the most stressful times for boat users*1, this system ensures a stress-free and reassuring marine experience. Ever since it was founded, Honda has always applied a human-centere

A hands-free personal mobility device, UNI-ONE enables the user to steer by shifting their center of gravity while sitting, allowing them to move naturally in all directions as if they were walking, with both hands free. Honda’s new mobility device has a variety of potentials. Four team members of UNI-ONE development were invited to a round-table talk to reveal their passions f

Based on the original spirit of Honda to “utilize technology to help people,” which remains unchanged since the company’s founding, Honda has been continuing its research and development in the area of robotics, striving to create robots which will always be there for people, help people, improve the quality of people’s daily lives and expand people’s potential. People and robo

Electric vehicles (EVs) such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) have an ability to store or generate a large amount of electricity. If such vehicle electricity can be externally output, electrified vehicles can be utilized as a "power source on wheels" in various places and situations. However, the electr

From August, Honda started demonstration trials in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture for prototypes of electric propulsion designed for small watercraft. The trials verify the commercial quality of electric propulsion prototypes mounted on Horikawa sightseeing boats that circulate on the moat surrounding the city’s national treasure, Matsue Castle. The founder, Soichiro Honda had

Akifumi Fukaya spent his childhood in the United States where he grew up next to Honda products.　With the aspiration to propagate Honda products nationwide in the US, he joined Honda in his mid-career as a sales representative for Power Products.　Within two years at Honda, he made his dream come true to be stationed in the US.　Currently he is back in Japan and engaged with plan

Honda AWD (All-Wheel Drive) optimizes distribution of driving force to all four wheels to offer more secure and enjoyable driving than standard two-wheel drive. First introduced in February 2018, the latest version of Real Time AWD takes four-wheel drive to the next level. Predicting from the driving conditions, the system precisely optimizes the distribution of front and rear driving force...

The International Electric Vehicle Technology Conference (EVTeC) is an international conference focusing on EV technology, which started in 2011 by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (JSAE). In May 2023, the 6th EVTeC was held in Yokohama, and Keiji Otsu, President and Representative Director of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. delivered a speech titled “Honda's Vision for Carbon

The aviation industry is facing the challenge of reducing CO₂ emissions. In addition to technological innovations to the aircraft and power unit (PU), further advancement in fuels and operations are said to be essential for achieving carbon neutrality for aircraft, which are more difficult to electrify than mobility products on the ground. As a company which is striving to enha

Nearly fifty years have passed since humans landed on the Moon for the first time, an event that excited the whole world. Humans are again attempting to land on the Moon in 2024. This time, there is a plan to build a base for long-term continuous activities on the Moon. Honda is engaged in technological development of a key system responsible for supplying breathable oxygen, hy

Without exception, improving fuel economy has always been an important aspect for all engines. Now in the 21st century, reducing CO2 emissions to preserve the global environment, in addition to using less fuel resources, has also become a vital goal in engine development. The issue becomes: How can fuel efficiency of engines that operate under high loads be drastically improved

In 1997, Honda introduced the GX22/31 ultra-small 4-stroke engine to a handheld power equipment market dominated by 2-stroke engines. The simply-structured 2-stroke engines were highly portable and 360-degree-inclinable, ideally suited - and popular - for powering handheld power equipment, but were not fuel efficient nor environmentally friendly. Honda developed the compact, li

The E300 portable generator, Honda’s first engine-powered generator released in 1965, was developed as a “small, light, quiet, and above all easy-to-use portable generator.” Since then, Honda’s generators have evolved with the needs of the customer and of the times, largely focussing on portability. In recent times with more and more electrical equipment being used in everyday

Blade type household use compact snow throwers remove snow by collecting (pushing) and piling snow to the side, suitable for situations where snow cannot be blown around - such as residential areas and parking lots - in regions with light snowfall. Compared to rotary snow throwers which blast snow around, blade type snow throwers push snow, allowing even unaccustomed novices to

Honda’s first lawn mower, the HR21 walk-behind lawn mower, was released in 1978. Since then and after numerous enhancements, Honda’s lawn mowers gained popularity around the world, especially in North America and Europe. Keeping lawns in prime condition requires periodical mowing, which can be very laborious. For a long time Honda has been engaged in automating, and minimizing

Supplying high quality electricity for various situations, wherever it is needed. In 1965, Honda released its first commercially available portable generator, the E300. A large proportion of Honda’s portable generators are powered by gasoline engines. Kinetic energy is generated by the gasoline-powered engine and is then converted into electrical energy, and by housing this pro

As a company that supplies a wide variety of power units for customers all around the world, Honda has been electrifying its mobility products such as cars and motorcycles while also increasing the efficiency of it power units, targeting the realization of carbon neutrality. In addition, Honda is researching and developing technologies to capture CO2 from the atmosphere and con