• Story
  • Bringing Ideas to Life
  • Milestones
  • Products
  • Facility Openings

A Dream Can
Never Be Too Big

Creating new value
in North America

Creating new value in the U.S.

It starts out as an idea on a napkin, a daydream on the way to work or a wish as you’re working around the house. Before you know it, you’re watching it come to life on a computer screen, then in front of a customer focus group. Finally, you watch it come off the production line.

Honda R&D Americas, Inc. (HRA) is about being inspired and designing, developing and producing your idea. It is about using the racing circuit as your personal testing ground, making the air cleaner for you and future generations, efficiently using energy, and tackling any terrain. HRA gives you the opportunity to make your dream come to life.

At HRA, we make people’s dreams reality.

Bringing ideas to life

HRA takes those dreams and creates advanced products and technologies that will provide new value to customers around the world. HRA has the capability for “complete product creation” — developing all-new products within our R&D facilities in North America. This process starts with market and technology research and moves to design-styling through engineering design, prototype fabrication and testing, then to local parts procurement, and, finally, to support for mass production preparation.

We have major facilities in California, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida and other locations across the United States and in Canada. Multiple locations allow us to test our products in real-life conditions while still being close to the office. HRA is engaged in developing and testing Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda powersports and power equipment products and is also taking a leading role in advancing safety and environmental technologies.

Bringing Ideas to Life

Milestones

  • 1959

    1959

  • 1959

    1959

    American Honda Motor Co. established

  • 1959

    1959

  • 1963

    1963

    Launch of “You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda” ad campaign

  • 1964

    1964

  • 1964

    1964

  • 1969

    1969

    First Honda automobile sold in North America

  • 1970

    1970

    Honda’s US90 ATC 3-wheeler creates all-new product category

  • 1973

    1973

  • 1975

    1975

  • 1979

    1979

  • 1979

    1979

    North America Honda production begins in Marysville, OH with CR250R Motorcycle

  • 1979

    1979

  • 1984

    1984

  • 1985

    1985

    First U.S.-made Honda engines begin production in Anna, OH

  • 1986

    1986

  • 1986

    1986

    Acura brand launched

  • 1986

    1986

    The Honda Civic CRX-HF became the first car to exceed the 50 mpg EPA fuel-economy rating

  • 1987

    1987

    Acura Legend Coupe becomes the first U.S. Honda product equipped with an airbag

  • 1987

    1987

  • 1988

    1988

    First export of U.S.-made products to Japan: Accord Coupe and Gold Wing

  • 1988

    1988

  • 1990

    1990

  • 1991

    1991

    Accord wagon is first Honda automobile designed, developed, and built in the U.S.

  • 1993

    1993

  • 1995

    1995

    HRA creates its first auto show concept car, Acura CL-X

  • 1997

    1997

    CL Coupe is the first Acura designed, developed, and built in the U.S.

  • 2000

    2000

  • 2001

    2001

    Acura MDX is the first Acura SUV and the first midsize SUV to offer third row seating

  • 2001

    2001

    Civic Coupe and Volvo S80 are the first passenger cars to earn a full 5-star crash test safety rating for front and side collision tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSHA)

  • 2002

    2002

    Honda FCX is world’s first EPA-certified fuel cell vehicle

  • 2003

    2003

    HRA opens new automotive advanced safety research facility in Ohio which includes the world’s first pitching crash test simulator

  • 2003

    2003

    HRA begins research on marine engines

  • 2006

    2006

    Ridgeline is the first Honda-developed pickup truck

  • 2006

    2006

    Honda Civic Coupe and Ridgeline earn Motor Trend’s Car and Truck of the Year honors

  • 2006

    2006

  • 2007

    2007

  • 2008

    2008

  • 2008

    2008

  • 2009

    2009

  • 2011

    2011

    The 2011 Honda Odyssey is Honda’s first North American developed minivan

  • 2012

    2012

    Honda reaches milestone of one-millionth vehicle exported from the U.S.

  • 2014

    2014

    The 2014 Honda Odyssey is the first minivan to feature an
    in-vehicle vacuum and to achieve a Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

HRA Product Development History

Automotive

  • 2019 Honda Passport
  • 2019 Acura RDX
  • 2018 Honda Odyssey
  • 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  • 2017 Acura NSX
  • 2016 Honda Civic
  • 2016 Honda Pilot
  • 2015 Acura TLX
  • 2014 Acura MDX
  • 2011 Honda Odyssey
  • 2010 Acura ZDX
  • 2009 Acura TL
  • 2009 Honda Pilot
  • 2007 Acura MDX
  • 2006 Honda Civic Si
  • 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  • 2006 Honda Accord Sedan/Coupe
  • 2004 Acura TL
  • 2003 Honda Element
  • 2003 Honda Pilot
  • 2002 Acura 3.2 TL
  • 2001 Honda Civic Coupe
  • 2001 Acura 3.2 CL
  • 2001 Acura MDX
  • 1999 Acura 3.2 TL
  • 1998 Honda Accord Coupe
  • 1997 Acura CL
  • 1997 Acura 1.6 EL
  • 1994 Accord Wagon
  • 1993 Honda Civic Coupe
  • 1991 Honda Accord Wagon

Power Equipment

  • 2019 HRN216 Mower
  • 2019 HRX217 Mower
  • 2019 HRU216 Mower
  • 2018 HRR216 Mower
  • 2017 HRC216 Mower
  • 2015 HSS 724/928/1332 Snowthrower
  • 2014 HRX217 Mower
  • 2013 HRR Electric Start Mower
  • 2013 HRX Electric Start Mower
  • 2013 GCV160/190
  • 2012 HRX217/HRR216 Mower
  • 2011 GC/GCV EPA
  • 2011 HRR216 Mower
  • 2010 GCV190LA
  • 2010 GXV160
  • 2009 HRB536
  • 2008 FG110 Tiller
  • 2007 HRX217 Mower
  • 2007 GCV160/190
  • 2007 HRR216 Mower
  • 2007 HHT35 Trimmer
  • 2006 FG110 Tiller
  • 2006 HRR216 Mower
  • 2005 HS520 Snowthrower
  • 2005 HRX536/HRZ536 Mower
  • 2005 FG110 Tiller
  • 2005 HRC216 Mower
  • 2005 HRX217/HRX537 Mower
  • 2004 GCV160/190
  • 2004 HRX217 Mower
  • 2004 HRZ Mower
  • 2003 HRB217 Mower
  • 2003 GCV190
  • 2003 HHT25 Trimmer
  • 2002 GC/GCV160
  • 2002 HHT22/HHT31 Trimmer
  • 2001 HHE31 Edger
  • 2001 HRB216 Mower
  • 2000 HRR216/HRB216
  • 1998 HRR216/HRT216/HRS216 Mower
  • 1998 HA4118/20 Mower
  • 1998 H2113 Mower
  • 1998 HRC7113 Mower
  • 1997 HRM195 Mower
  • 1996 HRC216K1 Mower
  • 1995 HR215K1 Mower
  • 1994 HRC7020 Mower
  • 1992 HRC7013 Mower
  • 1989 HR17E Mower

Powersports Concept & Styling Design and Development

  • 2019 Talon 1000X, 1000R
  • 2017 Pioneer 1000 LE, 1000-5 LE
  • 2017 Pioneer 700, 700-4
  • 2017 Pioneer 500, 500-4
  • 2015 Pioneer 500
  • 2015 TRX500 Foreman
  • 2014 Pioneer 700, 700-4
  • 2014 TRX420 Rancher
  • 2012 TRX500 Foreman
  • 2011 Big Red SxS
  • 2009 TRX500 Rubicon
  • 2008 TRX400EX Sportrax
  • 2007 TRX500 Foreman
  • 2006 TRX250EX Sportrax
  • 2005 TRX250 Recon
  • 2004 TRX350 Rancher

Powersports Concept & Styling Design

  • 2017 Rebel 300, 500
  • 2016 Pioneer 1000, 1000-5
  • 2012 GL 1800 Gold Wing
  • 2010 1300 Fury
  • 2004 Rune
  • 2003 TRX650 Rincon
  • 2002 TRX250 Recon
  • 2001 TRX500 Rubicon
  • 2001 GL 1800 Gold Wing
  • 2000 TRX350 Rancher
  • 1998 VT1100 Shadow Aero
  • 1997 TRX250 Recon
  • 1995 VT1100 Shadow Ace
  • 1987 VT1100C Custom
  • 1984 700 Nighthawk S
  • 1983 V65 Magna
  • 1982 FT500 Ascot
  • 1979 CX500 Custom

Facility Openings

1975 Honda Research California in Torrance, California opens for market research and concept development. (Now Honda R&D Americas Inc., Los Angeles)

1979 Denver Office in Denver, Colorado opens for development and certification of emissions systems.

1985 Product research and development begins in a small office in Ohio.

1992 Ohio Center in Raymond, Ohio opens for expanded research and development; 2003 adds automotive safety research facility. Located in Raymond, Ohio since 1993

1993 Power equipment research and development begins in Swepsonville, North Carolina. In 2003, new North Carolina facility for power equipment research and development opens in Haw River, North Carolina.

2000 Honda Silicon Valley Lab opens in Mountain View, California to research and prototype innovations and harness new ideas and technology. HSVL moves to new location in Mountain View in 2015.

2003 Marine engine research begins in Sebastian, Florida.

2006 Advanced Design Center in Pasadena, California opens for advanced concept development for next-generation Honda and Acura products.

2006 Acura Design Studio in Torrance, California opens for market research, concept development, and styling design for Acura automobiles.

2008 Florida Marine Engine Research facility opens in Grant-Valkaria, Florida.

2012 New Advanced Design Center opens in downtown Los Angeles, California.

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