That’s a bunch of motorbikes!
Honda is one of the few still active businesses that began their lives as a maker of motorcycles. In 1949, the newly founded company rolled out the first proper motorcycle, the Dream D-Type. Fast-forward seven decades later, and Honda remains one of the industry’s most recognized brand names to this day. In 2019, the company achieved several important milestones, including its 400 millionth motorcycle production.
To Honda, 2019 seems to have been a good year. Not only has the brand launched some new bikes that have received a lot of publicity (Fireblade, CT125, Africa Twin, etc.), 2019 is also the year we celebrated the 50th birthday of the Japanese superbike, a milestone set by the launch of the Honda CB750 Four in 1969.
The company has now announced the launch of its 400 millionth motorcycle in order to wrap things up on a high note. Given that the company manufactures the world’s best-selling motorcycle, the Super Cub, it makes sense. Honda celebrated 100 million Super Cubs production in 2017, meaning that the model alone accounts for more than a quarter of Honda’s motorcycles since its inception.
It took the company nearly 20 years to reach its first 10 million units produced. Motorcycles are now being made at a rate of about 20 million a year. The industry has changed as the times did for sure! In 2014, when the counter hit 300 million, the previous turning point was reached. It took Honda only five years to add another 100 million to its records.
What is the market share of Honda?
India and Indonesia account for more than 50% of the mentioned production. That is not a big surprise! What about the United States? It isn’t even specified in the chart. Together with Asia, which accounts for 620,000 units between April 2018 and March 2019, it is included in the “other” slice of the pie chart.
Happy birthday, Honda, and good luck with producing 400 million bikes more!
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Source: RideApart
