Automobile manufacturer
Honda Australia Pty Ltd, commonly known as Honda Australia, is an Australian wholly owned subsidiary of Honda based in Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia.
The Honda brand arrived in Australia in the mid 1950s, when independent firms imported Honda motorcycles. By the 1960s, motorcycles were joined by Honda vehicles, notably the tiny Honda S600 sports car and Honda N360 and later the Accord and Civic.
In the late 1960s, Honda decided on a national approach to motor vehicle sales. On 4 February 1969, Japanese Manager Hidehiko Shiomi set up Honda Australia. It was the first Honda subsidiary in the world set up primarily to sell cars. By 1987, all of the private distributors of Honda motorcycles and power equipment had relinquished distribution rights and Honda Australia became sole importer of all Honda products.
In 1991, motorcycles and power equipment were relocated to Campbellfield to become Honda MPE, while Honda Motor Vehicles remained at Tullamarine.
In recent years Honda Australia has supported motorsport teams such as Wall Racing in TCR Australia.[1] It also supported Jenson Button in his FWD lap record attempt at Mount Panorama.
People
Hiroyuki Shimizu is the (Managing Director and CEO) with effect from 1 April 2017. Shimizu served as Director and Vice President, Honda Automobile (Thailand) in his last assignment.
Stephen Collins' current role is Director of Honda Australia, a position he has held since October 2012. Collins is also Chairman of The Honda Foundation.
Carolyn McMahon is the Director of Honda Australia Pty Ltd with effect from 1 April 2017.
Models and manufacturing
Nationally there are 107 Honda dealerships[2] across Australia:
- Metro – 43
- Provincial – 29
- Rural – 35
Sales
Launching within Australia in 1969, Honda has been a mainstay within Top 10 selling brands. In the 1990s, Honda established itself as quickly growing brand, and, within the 2000s, Honda Australia excelled itself, reaching 50,000 units between 2006 and 2008, and again in 2018, gaining it a higher position on the top selling brands charts.[3][4] Throughout its establishment, Civic, and later CR-V and Accord Euro, nameplates have been very popular with Australian buyers, with each selling over 400,000, 125,000 and 60,000 vehicles (respectively) throughout their tenancy.[5][6]
Awards
Wheels Car Of The Year
Drive Car Of The Year
- Honda Odyssey – Best People Mover 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010,[8] 2011,[9] 2012[10]
- Honda Accord Euro – Best Medium Car 2006
- Honda Civic – Interior design 2006
- Honda Accord V6 – Car of the Year 2008
Australia's Best Cars
- Honda Odyssey – Best People Mover 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
- Honda S2000 – Best Sports Car 2000
- Honda Accord V6 – Best Luxury Car under $57,000 in 2003, 2004
- Honda Civic – Best Mid Size Car under $28,000 in 2006, 2007
NRMA
- Honda Integra – Best Sports Car under $47,116 in 1993
- Honda Integra – Best Sports Car under $50,000 in 1994
- Honda Odyssey – Best Family Wagon 1996, 1997, Best Passenger Wagon 1997, 1998
- Honda Civic – Best Small Medium Car
RACV
- Honda Odyssey – Best Passenger Van 1995, 1996, 1997, Best People Mover 1995, 1998
- Honda Prelude – Best Sports Car under $50,000 in 1994
- Honda S2000 – Best Sports Car over $56,000 in 1999
RAA
- Honda Odyssey – Car of the year 1995
RACQ
- Honda S2000 – Best Sports Car 1999
Carsales
- Honda Accord Euro – Prestige Car of the Year 2003, 2004, 2005
- Honda Jazz – Small car of the Year 2003
Wheels and Which Car Annual Quality Ratings
- Honda Accord – 1994, 1995
Peoples Car of Australia Award
Australian International Design Award
- Honda CR-Z – 2012[11]
- Honda Civic Type R – 2008[12]
Motor Performance Car Of The Year
- Honda Civic Type R – 2018[13]
