It started with the Honda Cub and by’64 the company was the biggest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world. A mini pickup truck, called the T360 was Honda’s first automobile. Shortly thereafter came the S500 sports car. The company being discussed here is the Honda Motor Company. This would eventually lead to dealerships worldwide such as Lodi Honda.

Soichiro Honda founded the Honda Motor Company. His interest with automobiles began at an early age and only grew over time. Honda was a self taught engineer who even pawned his wife’s jewelry to put him through school at one point. In cooperation with Toyota, Honda helped build a factory for producing pistons which was destroyed in an earthquake.

Fuel shortages that occurred with World War II made driving his car impossible. In response to this problem, Honda took his bicycle and added a little motor to it. This motorized bike gained so much attention that Honda created the Honda Technical Research Institute to develop and manufacture 2-cycle bicycle engines. The profits were high enough to enable the first motorcycle, the Honda Cub, to be built.

Honda started exporting motorcycles to the United States during the 60’s. Debates have persisted over the years regarding Honda’s profitable entry into the competitive U. S. Motorcycle market. A variety of explanations have been given to explain Honda’s successful strategic entry into the market.

A report on how Honda over took the British motorcycle industry was ordered in’75. The report concluded that Honda’s success was due to manufacturing enough motorcycles to meet the needs of several economies. In return, the British industry was blamed for not investing enough of their profits to do the same thing.

In’84, another explanation was offered. It was discovered that Honda’s entry into the US market was a success due to their ability to work and adapt. At first, Honda had planned to enter the US market to compete with large motorcycles. Employees in San Francisco, who were using scooters to get around, found the scooters to be attention grabbers. It was then that they came up with the idea of the Supercub.

As a result of Honda’s successful venture with the U. S. Market, the strategy is often taught to those who attend business colleges worldwide.

Honda was the first to develop a Japanese luxury car and motorcycle with an airbag as well as the first middle sized pickup truck with an independent rear suspension.

The Honda Corporation understands that different areas of the world have different needs. As a result, cars are available in some countries that cannot be found in others. The Acura TL and the Ridgeline are some examples. As part of the line available worldwide, the CR-V, S2000, Insight, Civic, Accord and Fit are included.

During the 2008 economic meltdown experienced throughout the United States, Honda enjoyed an increase in sales. The high price of fuel and a weakening economy caused the increased. Toyota and the Big Three suffered major losses and plant closures in the double digits during 2008. The sales of Honda’s went through the roof topping out at twenty percent.

If you are looking for great value cars look at the following video clips from Lodi Honda: Fairfield Honda Fit and Honda Fairfield.