It has been a while but Honda is now 50 years in existence in America. The company which started out in 1959 via the manufacturing and distribution of fuel-efficient Honda motorcycles, Honda pays tribute to the array of technologies it has brought into the business. The latest technology offering is of course the much hyped Honda Insight, the gas-electric hybrid that has been pretty much talked about these past months.

“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 American Honda President & CEO Tetsuo Iwamura. “Today, in the face of new challenges, including the preservation of our environment, we renew our commitment to exceed the expectations of our customers and society.”

Highlights of Honda’s run:

• First automaker to meet U.S. Clean Air Act without a catalytic converter – Civic CVCC (1974)
• First vehicle to top U.S. EPA list of most fuel efficient cars – Civic (1977)
• First Japanese automaker to build motorcycles (1979) and automobiles (1982) in America – Marysville, Ohio
• First Japanese automaker to establish a luxury automobile brand – Acura (1986)
• First mass produced gas-electric hybrid car introduced in America – Insight (1999)
• First government-certified hydrogen fuel cell vehicle – FCX (2002)

Honda operates 10 U.S. manufacturing plants with two new plants under construction, along with 14 R&D facilities and more than 12 regional sales, parts and service, and finance offices around the country. The company’s network of U.S. parts suppliers comprises 545 companies in 34 states with annual purchases exceeding $17.5 billion in 2008.

(Source) Press

Tags: american honda, catalytic converter, clean air act, electric hybrid car, fuel cell vehicle, fuel efficient cars, honda insight, honda motorcycles, hydrogen fuel cell, hyped, japanese automaker, luxury automobile, manufacturing plants, most fuel efficient cars, motorcycles honda, president ceo, regional sales

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Ford just like any other company is free to sponsor any event or function as long as they can afford it. But today, that is perhaps something most companies are trying to avoid. Ford is a familiar figure in the much celebrated “Big Three” auto industry bailout issue and now it finds itself being criticized for perhaps spending financial support in a questionable manner.

In a Complaint filed today with TARP Inspector General Neil M. Barofsky, National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) President Peter Flaherty wrote,

“Ford’s major donation to Al Sharpton’s group at this critical time calls into question CEO Alan Mulally’s commitment to what he called ’shared sacrifice’ at Congressional hearings in December.”

In a letter today to Steven Rattner, who directs President Obama’s auto industry task force, Flaherty wrote,

“Ford’s financial support for Sharpton places into doubt the judgment of Ford executives. I can think of no expenditure further removed from the core mission of saving the company and the American auto industry than bankrolling Sharpton. It is your responsibility to ensure that no more capital is wasted on controversial political causes, no matter how supportive they are of the administration you represent.”

Ford was a sponsor of the National Action Network 2009 National Convention (NAN) that took place April 1-4, 2009 in New York City. NAN was founded by Al Sharpton and the convention is his major fundraising event of the year.

NAN did not disclose the exact amount of Ford’s gift, but a “sponsor” designation for last year’s event cost $50,000. Ford has recently closed 17 plants in North America and has laid off over 50,000 employees. Last year, the company lost $14.6 billion.

Other corporate sponsors of last week’s event included American Honda, Anheuser Busch, Colgate-Palmolive, Comcast, Entergy, Home Depot, Johnson & Johnson, Macy’s, PepsiCo, Pfizer and Wal-Mart.

Bailout recipients GM, Chrysler and Citigroup were sponsors of the same event in 2008, but were not identified as sponsors for 2009.

(Source) Press

Tags: american auto industry, american honda, anheuser busch, colgate palmolive, comcast, entergy, home depot, wal mart

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