Honda marked its first 50 years in America June 11, 2009, commemorating the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., in a small Los Angeles storefront on June 11, 1959. “On behalf of the tens of thousands of Honda associates in America, past and present, we offer our deepest thanks to our customers for placing their trust in Honda over the past 50 years,” said American Honda President & CEO Tetsuo Iwamura. “Today, in the face of new challenges, including the preservation of our environment, we renew our commitment to exceed the expectations of our customers and society.” Starting in 1959, with the fuel-efficient Honda 50 motorcycle, to the newly launched 2010 Honda Insight gas-electric hybrid vehicle, Honda has introduced new technologies and business strategies that have shaped the industry and the growth of Honda, including: •First automaker to meet US Clean Air Act without a catalytic converter Civic CVCC (1974) •First vehicle to top US EPA list of most fuel efficient cars Civic (1977) •First Japanese automaker to build motorcycles (1979) and automobiles (1982) in America Marysville, Ohio* •First Japanese automaker to establish a luxury automobile brand — Acura (1986) •First mass produced gas electric hybrid car introduced in America — Insight (1999) ••First government-certified hydrogen fuel cell vehicle — FCX (2002) Honda has steadily expanded its US presence to encompass a broad range of products and operations. Today, Honda employs more than 27000 US …
