You might be surprised to know that the history of Honda only spans back 70 years. In 1946, the most common mode of transport was the bicycle, so Soichiro Honda developed, produced and sold bicycles with auxiliary power. The bike was an instant hit, with orders coming in fast. Honda decided to develop the bicycle further and one year later released the A-Type engine bike, progressing into farming equipment and motorcycles with expansion into North America and Belgium a few years later.
In 1963, Honda released the T360 mini-truck and the S500 sports car, their emergence into the automotive industry. The well-known Honda Civic dates back to 1972 and for three consecutive years from 1972 to 1974, the Civic was awarded 'Car of the Year Japan' and the Civic ranked third in Europe’s 'Car of the Year' awards 1973 —the highest rating for a Japanese vehicle at that time. The Honda Civic is still a classic today.
Soichiro Honda founded Honda in 1948 in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The trapezoidal 'H' found on the front of Honda vehicles stands for the Soichiro's last name – the Honda mark. The capital H is broader at the top and narrower at the bottom as if its arms are raised toward the sky, embracing Honda's official slogan, 'The Power of Dreams'.
In 1979, Terry Lister and Keith Bradshaw founded Listers. They established a working relationship with Honda twenty years later and opened three dealerships in Northampton and Stratford. In 2005, Honda Solihull opened.