Honda’s entry into the US market
The Civic, though larger than most of Honda’s previous models, was much lighter and smaller than any of the American cars produced at the time.
Many different ideas have been put forward as to why Honda has been so successful in the US market, but whatever the reason, the fact remains that since Honda first established itself here in 1972, it has been overwhelmingly successful. .
This success began with the introduction of the Honda Civic at that time. In 1972, just as the gas crisis was hitting Detroit, another impediment for American manufacturers was on the horizon. The Environmental Protection Agency, still relatively young at the time, had just passed a series of emissions laws that required American automakers to install expensive catalytic converters in the exhaust systems of all vehicles produced for US markets. Joined. This drastically increased the prices of the labels. At the same time these things were happening, Honda had been working diligently to perfect its new CVCC stratified-charge engine. This engine, introduced in the 1975 Civic, could pass emissions testing without an expensive catalytic converter. The price difference, as well as the Civic’s dramatically higher fuel efficiency, steered customers away from the higher-priced US models. For the first time, Detroit’s Big Three felt a shift in American consumer loyalty. More concerned about their wallets, American car buyers began servicing American brands.
By 1976, Honda had broken into the United States automobile market. By 1982, Honda was building automobile plants in the United States. The first was the Accord plant in Marysville, Ohio. With its North American headquarters located in Torrance, California, Honda now has two other plants in Ohio, as well as one in Alabama and South Carolina.
Honda quickly built a reputation in the automotive world and in 1989 introduced a concept that would shake up the auto industry once again with the introduction of its newest design: the VTEC engine. A revolutionary technology, VTEC is a variable valve timing system that improves the efficiency and performance of automotive engines over a wide range of speeds. The concept involves tuning an engine to run in different configurations for different speeds by combining two different sized cam lobes that engage at different speeds. The shorter cam lobe runs at low speed when more power and less torque is needed. The longer cam works at high speeds when continuous acceleration is desired. Other automakers rushed to produce their own versions, and this technology is standard for most automakers today.
Honda actually makes more than just cars, as most know. The Japanese company makes trucks, motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, boats, and most other items with a gasoline engine attached. Today Honda is the largest engine manufacturer in the world. While most Japanese car manufacturers have a reputation for reliability, Honda cars have surpassed this to rank high not only in the United States but around the world.
