Honda has been named in Thomson Reuters’ prestigious Top 100 Global Innovators report for the fifth year in a row. The annual report, which was published last week, identifies companies that develop new inventions and successfully patent them.
Describing itself as a list of the top 100 worldwide innovation power players the report has recognised Honda’s innovation every year since its inception in 2011.
Honda’s 70 years of innovation
Honda has a rich history of innovation that stretches back to the birth of the company:
1949 – Honda launches its first motorcycle, the Dream D-Type motorcycle. It is the first production motorcycle to feature a semi-automatic transmission.
1971 – Honda responds to the imposition of stringent US air quality targets by creating the CVCC, the first engine that met these targets without the need for a catalytic converter.
1983-1992 – Honda re-enters Formula 1 racing, winning six consecutive constructors championships and five drivers’ championships for Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.
1999 – Honda launched the first production full hybrid car in Europe, the Honda Insight.
2008 – Following years of development, Honda was the first manufacturer to launch a dedicated platform hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity.
2015 – A world first in the automobile industry, as Honda launches i-ACC (intelligent adaptive cruise control) which predicts a car is ‘cutting-in’ to your lane on the motorway.
Commenting on the achievement, Philip Ross, Senior Vice President said, “The business has been built on a strong belief in innovation instilled by our founder Soichiro Honda almost 70 years ago.”
"That innate desire to contribute to society through engineering and technology perspective continues throughout Honda today. Our continuing work to innovate across many areas – from robotics to aviation, road safety to motor racing – means Honda will continue to be seen as a global innovator for many years to come.”
A Thomson Reuters spokesman said: “Our philosophy is that a great idea without patent protection and commercialisation is nothing more than a great idea”.
