Honda Australia is celebrating 50 years in Australia this year and has turned a collection of its iconic product gold – the company was established locally on February 4, 1969.

Honda products had been a familiar sight to Australians since the 1950s but it wasn’t until the Honda Motor Company in Japan sent Hidehiko Shiomi to Melbourne to setup a unified, national representation for Honda in Australia. The doors officially opened on February 4, 1969.

“Honda Australia was a Honda subsidiary set up primarily to sell cars, but it has since grown with the global Honda brand to deliver a wide range of products and services that help make people’s lives more enjoyable,” said Honda Australia Managing Director & CEO, Hiroyuki Shimizu.

To celebrate its 50^th anniversary in Australia, Honda has created a one-off collection of some of its current and iconic performance products in gold bodywork (the traditional symbol of a 50^th anniversary).

“We thought about how we could celebrate our birthday and our unique diversity in a bold and fun way. I mean, who has ever seen a golden mower or generator before?” said Mr Shimizu.  

“To Honda, performance means more than speed – each product is designed to perform at a level that exceeds the expectations of the customer. We’re looking forward to showcasing these amazing golden products around the country throughout 2019, so stay tuned for more information on that front.”

Called the ‘golden era of performance’ lineup it covers everything from generators to supercars, featuring seven of Honda’s latest and greatest products:

• NSX hybrid supercar;
• Civic Type R high-performance hot hatch;
• CBR1000RR Fireblade motorcycle from the Supersport range;
• CRF450L next-generation motorcycle from the Enduro range;
• CRF50F Kids Fun bike, Honda’s best-selling off-road machine;
• HRU19 Buffalo Premium lawnmower, designed and assembled here in Australia; and
• EU22i Generator, the world’s best-selling Super Quiet, leisure generator.

“Achieving 50 years of longevity and continuity in business is a significant milestone, but none of this would be possible without our people.  Our team at Honda Australia and our dealer network across the country are exceptional at what they do and I thank them for their contribution”, said Mr Shimizu

“Most importantly though are our customers.  Honda would be nothing without our customers – both long-term customers and new customers all contribute to making this brand what it is today.  I am very proud to be a second-generation Managing Director of Honda Australia and incredibly grateful to all our customers for their ongoing loyalty, trust and belief in the Honda name.”

Honda Motorcycle and Power Equipment Managing Director, Robert Toscano, said: “Honda products have been instrumental in shaping the landscape of modern Australia over the last 50 years – take the CT110, more commonly known as the Australia Post, ‘postie bike’, which has helped deliver the mail to Australians all across the country for generations,” said Mr. Toscano.

“I am proud to have been a part of the journey so far and it’s fantastic for us to celebrate this together, we all look forward to the future and the next 50 years of Honda in Australia.”