The Gold Wing in the main photo was shot at Honda Aircraft Company’s massive headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina. It’s the first thing you see when entering the main lobby, and presumably it’s there as an important reminder of Honda’s heritage. In 1946, Soichiro Honda established the Honda Technical Research Institute to develop machine tools and engines. In 2017, the brand name is delivering an ultramodern jet. For motorheads and curious consumers alike, the Honda timeline of milestones is an interesting read.
While studying in the late 1980s, a required reading in my business lecture was Robert L. Shook’s Honda: An American Success Story. Despite some foggy school daze, the story of Honda’s success in America was so intriguing that I embarked on my own academic research focusing on the Honda brand loyalty, which was gaining momentum at the time. I’m among the loyal, having invested plenty in Honda products. My stable currently houses no fewer than five of them, including two vehicles (one from the Acura division), a motorcycle and several pieces of Honda power equipment. Reliability and performance keeps me coming back and I’m not easy to please.