76 years after the company started the mass production of the Dream D -Type in 1949, Honda’s cumulative global production of motorcycles with combustion engine reaches the 500 million units – a world first.
Since its foundation in 1948, Honda has developed and delivered products and services that meet the needs of customers in many countries and regions, based on the conviction that “the purpose of technology is to make people’s lives easier”.
Honda started the mass production of engines in her first overseas production facility in Belgium in 1963 and has since had its production extensively in accordance with its basic principle of “local production where there is demand”.
As a result, Honda reached the milestone of 100 million pieces in 1997, the milestone of 200 million pieces in 2008 and the milestone of 300 million pieces in 2014. In 2018, Honda’s annual production exceeded 20 million units for the first time in its history and in 2019 the cumulative worldwide production reached 40 million units.
Although the annual production of motorcycles fell temporarily as a result of COVID-19 in 2020, the question has since steadily recovered worldwide to the level of for the pandemic. In addition to the models with combustion engine (ICE), Honda has positioned the year 2024 as the “first year of global expansion” for electrically driven two -wheelers and it started with the launch of new models.
Honda now says it has an annual production capacity of more than 20 million units in 23 countries and 37 production sites. The company supplies products and services to customers around the world through a network of more than 30,000 Honda dealers.
Honda will continue to make an effort to further strengthen its motorcycle activities by supplying attractive products and services with a versatile approach, by realizing the “joy and freedom of mobility” for a broader range of customers, by building up a highly efficient business structure and achieving CO2 neutrality, including by electrification.
Toshihiro Mibe, director, chairman and representative director, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
“For Honda, the motorcycle business is our ‘Founder’s Business’ and it will remain the core business of the company. In the motorcycle sector we have built up the trust of our customers through our many products and services, so that we have been able to achieve a cumulative production volume of 500 million pieces. I would like to thank our customers and all stakeholders involved in the Honda and Service, and Service involved in the reach of reaching and service that were involved in the reach and service in the reach of the Honda and Service. Continue to take up challenge to increase the joy of our customers around the world.
The milestone is reached in India, where the assets of the band rolls in Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Private Limited (HMSI) Plant 4 in Vitalpur, Gujurat.
1948 Honda Motor Co. set up
1949 Launch of the first fully-fledged motor model, the Dream D-Type
1958 Launch of the first Super Cub model, the Super Cub C100
1959 Honda becomes the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer
1963 Start of motor production in Belgium (first finished motorcycle factory outside Japan)
1967 Start of motor production in Thailand
1968 Cumulative global production reaches 10 million units
1969 The CB750 is sold
1971 Start of motorcycle production in Indonesia
1971 Start of motorcycle production in Italy
1975 The GL1000 Gold Wing is sold
1976 Motorcycling production starts in Brazil
1979 Motorcycle production starts in the US
1980 Start Production Motorcycles in Nigeria
1984 The cumulative global production reaches 50 million units
1986 The XRV650 Africa Twin is added to the range
1992 Start Production Motorcycles in China
1992 The CBR900RR Fireblade is sold
1997 Start of motorcycle production in Vietnam
1997 Cumulative global production reaches 100 million units (reached in 48 years)
2001 Start of motorcycle production in India
2001 Hornet 600 will be the first Honda with large capacity produced outside Japan
2004 annual production exceeds the 10 million units for the first time
2005 Honda introduces the world’s first airbag application for production engine bikes on the GL1800 Gold Wing
2008 Cumulative global production reaches 200 million units (reached cumulative global production in 2008 reached 200 million units (reached in 11 years of 100 million units)
2009 The VFR1200F is unveiled on the Tokyo Motor Show – the world’s first motorcycle with double clutch
2013 Start of motorcycle production in Bangladesh
2014 Cumulative global production reaches 300 million units (reached in 6 years of 200 million units)
2014 The Honda Super Cub will be the most produced motorcycle in history (87 million pieces sold in 160 countries)
2018 The cumulative annual production exceeds the 20 million units for the first time
2019 The cumulative global production reaches 400 million units (reached in 5 years of 300 million units)
2022 Honda’s trip to electrification starts in Europe with the introduction of the EM1E: scooter that uses Honda’s Mobile Power Pack E: (MPP) Technology.
2022 Fireblade celebrates its 25th birthday
2023 Honda introduces the Honda E-Clutch technology
2024 Honda introduces the concept version of the first EV Fun model and the new V3 concept motor with a unique electrical compressor
2025 Cumulative global production reaches 500 million units 2025 Cumulative global production reaches 500 million units (within six years of 400 million units)
2025 De Gold Wing is celebrating its 50th birthday
Establishment of Honda’s worldwide production locations for motorcycles:
1963 Belgium
1967 Thailand
1971 Indonesia
1976 Brazil
1976 Italy
1979 North America
1980 Nigeria
1986 Spain
1992 China
1997 Vietnam
2001 India
2007 Peru
2013 Bangladesh
2013 Kenya
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.