Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda, now Honda Motor Corporation: biography, interesting facts

Soichiro Honda was a famous visionary of the automotive industry. A man with limited means, but great talent forever changed the way we drive today. In this brief history, only some interesting stages of his long and glorious biography are highlighted.

Future Napoleon from Mechanics

In the small village of Komyo near Tenryu, now the city of Hamamatsu, lived Gikhei Honda - an honest, experienced blacksmith with his wife Mika - a skilled weaver. Gichey contained a repair shop for bicycles. On November 17, 1906, Soichiro was born to his spouses. Despite the fact that the family was poor, the son was brought up in a happy environment, although a bit strict. Like my father, Honda (photo you can see later) had a love for mechanics, and, like his father, he had skillful hands. He was not inclined to inconvenience others and grew up appreciating time, always coming in time for all his meetings.

At the age of 8-9 years, he first saw a car passing him on a rough and dusty rural road. Soichiro found the exhaust gases charming, and the roar of the engine for him sounded like music. Approaching the tiny puddle of gasoline left by a miracle, he knelt down, dipped his fingers into it and inhaled. The boy felt like a hypnotic scent, and since then he has dreamed of only cars and engines. At the primary school in Futamata, classes for Soichiro lasted for an eternity: he waited for a call to spend his free time in his father's workshop. Pedals, chains and wheels were his toys, when he helped Gichey repair.

Work in Art Shokay

When Honda was 16 years old, he saw an advertisement of the automobile workshop "Art Shokai" in Tokyo. Car service was popular, as it provided the best repair services in the city. It was not a hiring announcement, but Soichiro wrote to the management asking him to accept him as a student. Having received a positive response, a week later the dreamer left for Tokyo.

Soichiro Honda was delighted to see the urbanized capital of the country. For the first few months, the student performed small tasks, such as tea making or washing the floors. The elders took him under their care and watched his patience and devotion to the company. He quickly learned the nuances of the car repair business and earned a reputation as a hardworking mechanic. His enthusiasm for hard work, the ability to improvise and an intuitive understanding of mechanics have served him well. It was here that he learned to make piston rings under the direction of his boss, Yuzo Sakakibara. Soichiro not only learned the repair work, but also how to deal with customers, and also learned the importance of feeling proud for his technical competence and work. He received not only theoretical knowledge, but also necessary skills of work, such as forging and welding.

Branch Head

The young man lived his dream, but everything changed on September 1, 1923. The great earthquake in Japan brought destruction and death. As a result of the tragedy, more than 140 thousand people died. While the senior staff went to rebuild their homes and life, Soichiro stayed in the workshop. The tragedy turned into a blessing for this novice engineer, who was able to repair motorcycles and cars of his customers.

Honda became an indispensable asset of the Art Shokai workshop. In 1928, the company expanded rapidly, and the owners decided to open branches in other cities. 22-year-old Soichiro was placed at the head of the branch in Hamamatsu. The new duties gave him enough time to start assembling racing cars from old spare parts and chassis. It also gave him the opportunity to test his talent inventor. Soichiro created a racing car from scratch and put on him a capitally refurbished Ford engine. Having shown speed more than 160 km / h, the car has broken a record of the Japanese racing line. Worked day and night on his creations.

By that time the branch in Hamamatsu had more than 30 people in the state. In October of that year, Honda married Satie. She began to help her husband manage the company, taking over the provision of food for staff and bookkeeping. The race lover personally ran his cars until, in 1936, an accident happened to him, almost ended in a fatal outcome. He refused to participate in the races at the urgent request of his wife and father.

Own business

In 1937, Soichiro Honda (pictured in the article) invested his $ 3200 savings in the Tokai Seiki Heavy Industry. His short stay at the previous work came in handy when he opened his factory in Hamamatsu. The company supplied the "Toyota" piston rings, and then the Japanese Imperial Army and the Air Force. The first lesson Soichiro received when a batch of 3000 of his piston rings, put by Toyota, was not tested. It was a big blow to the company's finances. But the cheeky Honda learned a valuable lesson in quality control and returned to business. He decided to enter the Institute of Industry in Hamamatsu and two years to study metallurgy.

During the Sino-Japanese War, and later, during the Second World War, the company's sales increased threefold. It was also a time of disappointment for Honda, which could no longer collect racing cars. Gradually, the number of male employees in the company, whose number of employees had already risen to two thousand, was reduced, as they were drafted for war. They were replaced by inexperienced women. It was then that Soichiro realized the need to automate production.

The attack on Pearl Harbor led to a war on the shores of Japan. Air forces of the Allies bombed the air base in Hamamatsu. During the raid, the Honda plant was partially destroyed. But he restored it and the assembly line.

Creative holidays

In 1945, another earthquake shook the city, and this time the luck was not on Honda's side. The plant suffered so much that Soichiro had neither the means nor the desire to restore it. Having sold the Toyota plant, Honda took a one-year creative vacation. He entered the technical college in Hamamatsu and studied automotive, but did not show up for the final exams. Soichiro became an engineer without a diploma.

After the Second World War, Japan was devastated. Public and private transportations were severely affected. The country gathered with courage to restore its pre-war glory. Manufacturers in all branches with religious zeal aimed to achieve high quality products at affordable prices. Nevertheless, the automotive industry was still at the crossroads of the road to the creation of a vehicle that would "take" the country to prosperity.

Bicycle with gasoline engine

In October 1946, Soithiro created the research institute "Honda". He bought from the army a tiny two-stroke radial engines and adapted them to bicycles. A cheap bicycle with a gasoline engine instantly gained popularity among people who could not afford expensive cars.

In 1948, Honda founded its motorcycle factory. Further research and development led to the appearance of the Type-A model. The competition was tough, since Honda was only one of 200 manufacturers of motorized vehicles in the country. Soichiro's ingenuity and word of mouth made Honda's first motorcycle a hit. And the appearance of the Type-D "Dream" model, changed the Japanese two-wheeled industry forever.

Honda: the price of a dream

Soichiro had the principle - "good products need a good marketing strategy." The name "Dream" was suggested by close friends, as Honda has always dreamed of making elegant, but powerful cars. Unfortunately, the financial position of the company was not in the best condition. Soichiro was a great engineer, but a terrible businessman who was unable to control his expenses or cut losses. The company quickly lost money, jeopardizing the dream of its founder. When Soichiro reflected on the future of the enterprise, Takeo Fujisawa appeared on the threshold of his house.

Companion Savior

It was 1950 when Fujisawa met 44-year-old single owner Soichiro, the owner of a motorcycle factory. He shared his passion for cars, and they could talk about them for hours. By the end of the day, Fujisawa had gone out to get a job, although without any formal agreement. He took up control of the company's business operations, and Soichiro spent his time devoted to research and development.

The creation of the highest quality engines became Honda's top priority, and as a result, the Type E was launched in production. The motorcycle was distinguished by a 4-stroke 5.5-liter motor. from. Fujisawa's business acumen led to the production of a light motorized Type Cub vehicle with a 50 cc engine capacity. See This inexpensive model has won hearts and answered the hopes of thousands of Japanese who could not afford to buy a car.

Soichiro the millionaire

To meet growing needs, the growing company built new factories and research laboratories. In 1955, Honda Motors received financial support through a public initial public offering on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. By the end of 1956, the company had become a leading motorcycle manufacturer in Japan, and Soichiro and his close friend Fujisawa had made a multi-million dollar fortune.

The motto of "Honda" is based on the philosophy of three joys:

1. The joy of production, which is experienced by engineers and manufacturers.
2. The joy of the sale, which the promoters and sales departments receive.
3. The joy of buying: the greatest award of Soichiro - when the customer is satisfied with the goods.

During the Korean War in the 1950s, sales increased dramatically as US forces began to use Japanese cars for their logistics operations. Even the shipbuilding and metallurgy industry of the country benefited from the ongoing war. High quality, reliable engines and low operating costs have made Honda the most preferred logistic partner of the US military. Fujisawa saw the opportunity for growth and developed a successful system of highly productive production of the company. The financial situation of Honda Motors was in such good condition as never before. Motorcycles Honda played an important role in the development of the country. Despite the successes, 52-year-old Soichiro in his heart was still a boy who never disdained to mess his hands.

Conquest of America

In 1959, Honda Motors entered the US market. This was dominated by local motorcycle manufacturers of heavy models, such as Harley Davidson and Indian. The company was located in Los Angeles, but could not attract customers. The average American believed that motorcycles are driven only by criminals and policemen.

Honda wanted to change the perception of the target audience. For this, a unique marketing strategy was adopted. The company demonstrated its motorcycles in hardware stores, sports equipment stores and even supermarkets. When the Super Cub model appeared in the US, it changed the way young Americans got to work.

In the first year, the US department managed to sell 15,000 units, which was an excellent result for a foreign company. Nevertheless, Soichiro had ambitious plans. He wanted to sell 15 thousand units a month. As always, Fujisawa began to work, which began selling motorcycles in an unconventional Japanese style. The sales department of the company carried trailers loaded with them, from city to city.

The unique distribution method worked, and sales soared. The 1958 Super Cub was redesigned for the American market. A quality and attractive motorcycle was considered one of the best in the US. The lightweight female frame, simple operation, low maintenance costs and simple design have made it popular among the fairer sex. The Honda Super Cub's performance in fuel consumption made it possible to call the bike the most economical in the country. The American version had a 50 cc engine. Cm and a capacity of 4.5 liters. from.

To produce this model, a new Honda factory was built in Suzuka (Japan), the price of which was 10 billion yen, designed to produce 30,000 vehicles in one shift or 50,000 in two. The enterprise became the largest in the world, and mass production allowed cutting costs by 18%.

Race against yourself

Honda Motor Company deeply penetrated the American motorcycle market. But Soichiro wanted more. Once he visited his own research center and shocked the team, announcing their participation in motorcycle races. His passion and need for speed affected again. In 1959, the Honda team participated in the race on the Isle of Man and openly opposed its rivals. The seemingly insolent step became strategic, pushing the technological boundaries of the company. The technology developed for racing was later used in consumer motorcycles. The unsuccessful start in the Isle of Man due to the constant engine failure and other technical failures for Soichiro became a learning process, and he, despite everything, constantly maintained the team's high morale, aiming it at victory. Success came in 1961, when Honda won the first 5 positions in the categories of 125 and 250 cubic meters. cm.

Conquest of the world

To take advantage of the success of racing motorcycles, Soichiro began to move to foreign markets. In 1964, the American branch of the company sponsored the Academy Awards and the Super Bowl. It instantly attracted attention and was converted into 100 thousand sales per month. Advertising campaign "You will meet the most pleasant people in" Honda "" created a huge consumer demand. The campaign was a true reflection of its founder. In a 60-second ad, a young mother tosses a child to school on her Honda and drives into a nearby store. Aesthetically perfect black and white advertising showed people from different environments riding on motorcycles of this brand. Later color commercials depicted boys and girls on the Honda to attract young Americans.

"Formula 1"

The founder of the company Honda won the world market of motorcycles, but wanted to conquer even greater peaks. He once again shocked the developers, announcing the beginning of production of cars. It was a practical step, because the company had all the resources and technical expertise to solve this problem. But before Honda there was an obstacle - Japanese trade and industry did not issue licenses to create new car manufactures. This worried Soichiro, passionately carried away by them.

To morally defeat politicians, he began performances in the Formula 1 race. The idea was to produce faster and cheaper cars while maintaining international quality standards. Participation in the "Formula-1" helped the company quickly introduce innovations, subsequently applied in consumer models. The first season of the Honda team in 1964 was full of disappointments and setbacks. But the CEO supported the team of engineers. The following year became promising, but also ended in failure. Soichiro Honda began to worry if his success was limited only by motorcycles.

Then came the team's star hour when she won the Mexican Grand Prix. In 1967, Honda took pole position in the Italian Grand Prix. Much better it performed on the tracks of the "Formula 2", winning 11 times in a row. The company promoted its technology through motorsport.

The dream came true

Soichiro Honda lobbied the government and received permission to build a small number of cars. He was involved in the process of research and design of the company. His European tour became a revelation for him when Soichiro came across the compact Fiat. It was smaller, easily maneuvered in traffic jams, burned less fuel and required less space for parking.

Inspired by their European colleagues, engineers built the Honda Civic. The first car, which featured the emblem of Honda, was equipped with an innovative diesel engine with pre-combustion fuel, which emits less carbon dioxide and pollutants. The model successfully tested compliance with the strict environmental laws of the United States, provoking the anger of American manufacturers. Sales exceeded even bold expectations, and Honda Civic became the number one in the US, pushing the eminent automotive concerns.

In 1973, the company decided to build a factory in Marysville, Ohio. The Accord model was launched in 1982. In the same year, the Akkura brand was launched with the addition of Integra and Legends. "Akkura NSX" became the first supercar in Japan.

On the 25th anniversary of Honda-Motors, Soichiro Honda and Tekeo Fujisawa retired from the company. Genius transferred his offspring to the hands of the younger generation in the prime of the technological and infrastructural power of the enterprise.

Life in retirement

But the skill of Honda did not leave him. He spent hours in his private garage, restoring and dismantling the engines. At the invitation of the British Museum, he repaired an antique car and drove on it from London to Brighton.

The 66-year-old Soichiro Honda retired to become the Japanese ambassador of goodwill. He met with many outstanding personalities, bridged the East and the West. He welcomed the transfer of production of cars in the US in 1974 and their sale around the world. Honda did not forget about his offspring and often visited the company's research laboratories to keep abreast of the latest technologies. Soichiro happily admitted that the innovations are intriguing, but he is not able to understand them. The last sigh the master let out on August, 5th, 1991. He died because of a liver failure. The dreamer left his beliefs, ideas and spirit in the company Honda Motor Corporation.

Interesting Facts

• The founder of the company Soichiro Honda did not have a diploma of higher education.
• Honda started with the production of motorized bicycles in 1946, and by 1964 his company had become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world.
• Soichiro Honda was the first Japanese to be included in the American Automotive Hall of Fame. This happened in 1983.
• Super Cub, made its debut in 1958, by 1960 was sold in the amount of 165 thousand units per month. Over 60 million motorcycles of this model have been sold all over the world.
• The market value of the company Honda exceeds the cost of the companies "General Motors" and "Ford" combined.
• The company is not limited to motorcycles and cars. It produces hydrocycles, ATVs, airplanes, mountain bikes, lawn mowers and much more. In addition, Honda is actively engaged in robotics, developing models that can walk, run, dance, avoid obstacles and even conduct the orchestra.