Who founded the Honda Motor Company?

Soichiro Honda founded the Honda Motor Company.

Honda’s path to the company began with Soichiro Honda’s work as a mechanic and his 1937 business, Tōkai Seiki, which manufactured piston rings. After World War II, he used the proceeds from selling that company’s salvageable assets to establish the Honda Technical Research Institute in October 1946.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was incorporated on September 24, 1948. The young company first became known for motorized bicycles, including the 1948 Type A, before producing motorcycles and eventually automobiles. Honda’s engineering talent was complemented by Takeo Fujisawa, who joined in 1949 and handled much of the company’s finance, sales, and business strategy.

A common mix-up is calling Fujisawa the sole founder. He is correctly described as Honda’s co-founder and crucial business partner, but Soichiro Honda is the company’s canonical founder and namesake. Honda remained president until 1973, helping transform the firm from a small postwar motor producer into a global manufacturer.