The 70's energy crisis and subsequent emissions laws opened a second row of gates for Honda. Although still small compared to the US-made cars, the Civic became the first to attract the American buyer. In an effort driven by market-conquest desires, Honda launched the American-oriented civic, a larger model than any other previously released. Having been designed for the Japanese market, the small-sized cars had little close to nothing to do against the large vehicles favored by the Americans.
Although it had entered motor sport competitions, Honda cars failed to impress the average American driver. Its production of cars however, that had started during the 60's was slow at sparking as much attention as its 2-wheeled drives did. During the 1970's, Honda became the world's largest motorbike maker. The company's motorcycle division registered a tremendous sales increase, pushing Honda on the motorcycle manufacturer's podium. The brand became synonymous with usefulness and innovative engineering. This combined with his almost Napolean market take-overs proved to be a powerful concoction that allowed Honda to developed unabated by competition. The bloodhound-nosed company leader, Soichiro could sense that Honda would be big and committed to setting a new standard in car-production quality. World domination would naturally follow, made easy through clever subsidiary locations and dealership settlements. Ten years later, Honda would reach American land and establish the American Honda Co. Cheap and versatile, it set the cornerstone in Honda's incredible expansion. The timing was perfect as many car or bike plants were destroyed during the war.įocusing on developing a cheap indispensable vehicle, Honda strapped an engine to a bike, delivering a very efficient means of locomotion. Soichiro Honda founded the company in 1948. The open spots that war had created had to be occupied fast and Honda was quick enough to settle on grounds that would later witness its growth as the 5th largest automobile manufacturer in the world. The Japanese auto industry was dazed, many factories having had to convert to cater for demands in military vehicles and aircraft. Focusing all the resources that were left to rebuild what had been destroyed, Japan could hardly fill at once all the voids that had been created.
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Torn by the second world war, the country was yet far from making a full recovery. The circumstances under which Honda came to be are at least manga worthy.