TOKYO, Japan, December 7, 2018 -- Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that Honda Aircraft Company, the aircraft business subsidiary of Honda, received type certification for the HondaJet Elite from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Obtaining type certification from JCAB demonstrates that the HondaJet Elite complies with all of the exacting standards set by the organization including those for strength, performance, safety, function and reliability.

In June 2018, Honda Aircraft Company began sales of the HondaJet Elite through HondaJet Japan, a local HondaJet dealer in the region. Since its expansion to Japan, Honda Aircraft Company has taken orders for more than 10 aircraft to date. Deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled to begin before the end of 2018.

Comments by Takahiro Hachigo, President & Representative Director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.:

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the members of the Civil Aviation Bureau of the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for their great understanding and cooperation with Honda. Creating mobility products that enable people to enjoy the freedom of mobility in the sky has been Honda’s dream since its founding. Today, we are delighted that our HondaJet received type certification in Japan, the home country of Honda. This is one example of embodying our passion to serve people worldwide with the “joy of expanding their life’s potential.” Honda will continue taking on challenges to expand life’s potential for our customers.”

Comments by Michimasa Fujino, President & CEO of Honda Aircraft Company:

“We are proud to have obtained type certification in Japan, the home of Honda, and we are pleased our efforts in the development of advanced technologies are being recognized. The newly certified HondaJet Elite is our latest aircraft and I am confident it will provide efficient and comfortable mobility to our customers throughout Japan. Through our sales of the HondaJet Elite, we will strive to create a society where business jets are more easily accessible to everyone in Japan.”

About HondaJet Elite

The fastest, furthest and highest-flying plane in its class*, the HondaJet Elite incorporates Honda Aircraft’s many technological innovations, including the unique Over-The-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM) configuration, Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) nose and wing and composite fuselage. These advancements contribute to the aircraft’s superior performance, unparalleled efficiency and maximized fuselage space, making the aircraft's cabin the largest in its class. The HondaJet Elite is also significantly more fuel efficient than all other similarly sized twin-engine business jets. Certified for single pilot operation, the HondaJet Elite continues to live up to the company’s reputation for superior performance, efficiency, quality and value. In addition to its JCAB certification, the HondaJet Elite is also certified by the United States (Federal Aviation Administration), Europe (European Aviation Safety Agency) and India (Directorate General of Civil Aviation).

About Honda Aircraft Company

Honda Aircraft Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Founded in 2006, Honda Aircraft's world headquarters is located in North Carolina, the birthplace of aviation. The challenging spirit upon which Mr. Soichiro Honda founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is alive today as Honda Aircraft fulfills one of Honda's longstanding dreams to advance human mobility skyward.

*Honda internal research