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Honda R&D Co.
Honda R&D Co. was founded in 1960 as the separate engineering vehicle for Honda Motor Co., taking over design and product development from the parent...
Honda R&D Co.
Honda R&D Co. was founded in 1960 as the separate engineering vehicle for Honda Motor Co., taking over design and product development from the parent company. Soichi Hori succeeded the role of president in April 2024, overseeing roughly 12,000 engineers across R&D centers in Japan, North America, Europe, and Asia. The unit allocates its development budget — approximately $7.5B annually (per Honda's FY2024 earnings) — toward powertrain electrification, autonomous driving software, and hydrogen fuel-cell systems. On the mobility side, Honda R&D has developed the e:N Series electric SUVs and the Clarity fuel-cell sedan; in robotics, it produced the ASIMO humanoid and the current Avatar Robot telepresence prototypes. Confirmed deployed projects include the HondaJet Elite II (Honda Aircraft Company) and the 0 Series EV platform due by 2026. Honda R&D employs over 12,000 engineers globally (per Honda, 2023). Key facilities include the Tochigi Prefecture headquarters and R&D centers in Raymond, Ohio; Offenbach, Germany; and Shanghai, China. In October 2023, the firm opened a new software development hub in Bengaluru, India, focused on connected-car and ADAS software. What distinguishes Honda R&D is its structural independence: incorporated as a separate entity from Honda Motor, it operates on a cost-plus funding model but retains its own IP portfolio and patent filings. That architecture gives the R&D arm the budget stability to pursue long-cycle projects, such as the hydrogen fuel-cell system for the CR-V e:FCEV, without annual profit-pressure variance.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
1960
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Japan
City
Tochigi
Corporate office
Tochigi, Japan
Principals
Soichi Hori
President, Honda R&D (as of April 2024)
Kazunori Kamimura
Managing Director, Honda R&D (as of 2023)
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Honda R&D Co.?
Soichi Hori serves as president of Honda R&D Co., officially assuming the role in April 2024. The R&D budget — roughly 5% of Honda's global sales — is allocated by the executive committee in coordination with Honda Motor's corporate planning. Key technology roadmaps, such as the 0 Series EV platform, are approved by Honda's board per public disclosures.
How does Honda R&D Co. source its technology and development partners?
Honda R&D Co. develops most powertrain and vehicle platforms in-house but partners selectively on software and battery systems. It has joint ventures with General Motors for hydrogen fuel-cell systems and with LG Energy Solution for battery production. The unit also collaborates with academic institutions through Honda Research Institute in Japan, US, and Europe.
Is Honda R&D Co. structured as a separate entity from Honda Motor Co.?
Yes. Honda R&D Co., Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., legally incorporated in 1960. It operates as an independent engineering development company with its own president, board of directors, and intellectual property portfolio. The parent company funds it via a cost-plus budgeting model rather than project-by-project appropriation.
What investment stages does Honda R&D Co. target in its technology development?
Honda R&D Co. focuses on applied development and product engineering, not early-stage venture investment. It takes technologies from proof-of-concept through production readiness. The unit does run corporate venture investments through Honda Motor's Honda Innovation Lab, but that is a separate entity based in Tokyo.
Which sectors does Honda R&D Co. explicitly avoid?
Honda R&D Co. does not develop software-as-a-service, fintech, or consumer electronics. It focuses on mobility, robotics, and powertrain hardware. Avoidance of defense contracting is a known posture: Honda Motor publicly states it does not develop weapons or munitions systems.
How is Honda R&D Co. related to Honda Motor Co. and its other subsidiaries?
Honda R&D Co. is the primary product-development arm. It designs and validates vehicles, motorcycles, and power-equipment products manufactured by Honda Motor's production divisions. Related vehicles include Honda Aircraft Company (for HondaJet) and Honda Motorcycle R&D, but these report into the same R&D structure. The entity does not overlap with Honda Financial Services or Honda's energy subsidiary.
Does Honda R&D Co. maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
Honda R&D Co. does not operate a charitable foundation. The Honda Foundation, a separate grant-making entity, is owned by the founding family and unrelated to R&D operations. Honda Motor Co. runs a corporate social responsibility arm, but it is not part of the R&D subsidiary's budget or governance.
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