Honda
associates held a celebration in Torrance, Calif., on June 11 to celebrate 50 years of operation in the U.S.; the Japanese corporation's first American
retail outlet was opened in a small Los Angeles storefront on that day in 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 Tetsuo Iwamura, American Honda president & CEO.
Its first product in America was the Honda 50 step-through motorcycle, which helped the company become one of the best-selling brands in America. The company's marketing campaign of "You meet the nicest people on a Honda," helped change America's perception of two-wheeled transportation, the company says.
Based on the company's philosophy of building products close to its customers, Honda opened motorcycle manufacturing operations in 1979 in Marysville, Ohio.
