U.S. R&D Operations
Honda established its first research and development operation in the U.S. in 1975 to conduct market research. Today, Honda conducts the research, design and development of new technologies and products in the U.S., including Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda power equipment, Honda powersports products, and HondaJet. Honda currently operates 23 R&D facilities in the U.S.
| Operation | Location | Began | |||||||||||||||
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| R&D Business Unit | Torrance, California | 1975 | |||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Market and technology research for Honda and Acura vehicles. The R&D Business Unit, part of American Honda, is responsible for user experience research for Honda and Acura automobiles and Honda power sports products. |
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| Honda Design Studio | Torrance, California | 1975 | |||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities:Market research, concept development and styling design for Honda automobiles and power sports products. The Honda Design Studio, now part of American Honda, is responsible for vehicle styling for Honda automobiles and power sports products. Associates designed the all-new Honda Prologue electric vehicle, and the current Odyssey, Pilot, Passport and Ridgeline. |
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| Acura Design Studio | Torrance, California | 2006 | |||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Market research, concept development and styling design for Acura models. The Acura Design Studio was established within the Torrance campus to focus solely on the Acura automotive brand. Now part of American Honda, the studio is responsible for the design of the all-new Acura ZDX electric vehicle and the current Acura TLX, TLX Type S, RDX, MDX and MDX Type S. |
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| North American Auto Development Center | Raymond, Ohio | 1985 | |||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Product development, automobile and safety research & testing. The North American Auto Development Center (ADC) is responsible for complete product development including the current Honda Pilot, Passport, Odyssey and Ridgeline, and the Acura TLX, TLX Type S, RDX, MDX, and MDX Type S. The Automotive Safety Research Facility within ADC houses one of the world’s most sophisticated high-resolution crash test barrier blocks, the world’s first pitching crash test simulator, a scale wind tunnel, along with other advanced safety research and testing labs. |
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| Honda Automotive Labs of Ohio (HALO) | East Liberty, Ohio | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Product development, automobile and safety research & testing. Honda Automotive Labs of Ohio (HALO) is the world’s most advanced wind tunnel, with three separate state-of-the art testing functions: aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, and racing — in one location. The wind tunnel facility is used to test Honda and Acura products, as well as the company’s race vehicles. The $124 million HALO facility, located at the independent Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC) in Central Ohio, opened in March 2022. |
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| Honda Proving Center of California | Cantil, California | 1990 | |||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Testing ground for future Honda and Acura products, including automobiles, motorcycles, side-by-sides and ATVs. | |||||||||||||||||
| Operation | Location | Began | ||||||||||||||||
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| Ann Arbor Test Lab | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 1975 | ||||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Emissions testing, including simulation of road conditions for the powertrain system. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Denver Test Lab | Denver, Colorado | 1980 | ||||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: High-altitude emissions testing and catalyst aging. Responsibilities: Emissions testing, including simulation of road conditions for the powertrain system. |
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| Pontiac Office | Pontiac, Michigan | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Development of fuel cell technologies, including a next-generation fuel cell stack, as part of a joint venture with GM. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Warren Office | Warren, Michigan | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Development of autonomous vehicle technology, working in partnership with GM and Cruise and electric vehicles. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Powersports Development Office | Raymond, Ohio | 1985 | ||||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: All-terrain vehicle (ATV) and side-by-side research and development. The Powersports Development Office, now part of American Honda, is responsible for the design, development and market testing of Honda all-terrain vehicles and side-by-side products, like the Talon and Pioneer. |
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| Honda of South Carolina Mfg. | Timmonsville, South Carolina | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: All-terrain vehicle (ATV) and side-by-side research and development. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Solution System Development Office | Haw River, North Carolina | 1993 | ||||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Power product research, new product development and testing. The Solution System Office, is responsible for the design, development and market testing of various Honda power equipment products, including products built at North Carolina Manufacturing, which is located adjacent to the development office. |
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| Marine Research Office | Grant-Valkaria, Florida | 2009 | ||||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Marine product research, development and testing. The Marine Research Office, is dedicated to Honda’s marine business, strategically located on the water in Grant-Valkaria, Florida, in the heart of the U.S. marine industry. Associates at the 11,000 square foot facility are responsible for market research, product development and testing of Honda marine products. Most of the Honda outboard engines sold in the U.S. have been tested here. |
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Aviation R&D
| Operation | Location | Began | ||||||||||||||
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| Honda Aircraft Company, LLC | Greensboro, North Carolina | 2006 | ||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: The Greensboro, North Carolina facility is the world headquarters for the Honda Aircraft Company, maker of the HondaJet Elite II, including state-of-the-art R&D, production, administration and customer service facilities to develop, produce, market and support the HondaJet. It has begun R&D activities for the new light jet, HondaJet Echelon. | ||||||||||||||||
| Honda Aero, Inc. | Burlington, North Carolina | 2004 | ||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Located adjacent to the Burlington-Alamance County regional airport, the Honda Aero facility, which is the global production home of the HF120 light-jet engine, is the official Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility for the HF120, and features a state-of-the-art test cell, repair and overhaul along with parts warehousing. | ||||||||||||||||
Honda Racing Corporation USA
In December 2023, Honda Performance Development became Honda Racing Corporation USA, reflecting the company's new role in Honda's global racing efforts. Collaborating with HRC-Japan, HRC-US supports Honda's global motorsports activities, including the company's Formula One power unit development program.
| Operation | Location | Began | ||||||||||||||
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| Headquarters | Santa Clarita, California | 1993 | ||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: The U.S. headquarters of Honda Racing Corporation, the Santa Clarita facility designs and develops racing engines, and chassis and performance parts as well as providing technical and race support to Honda-powered race teams. | ||||||||||||||||
| Indianapolis Development Facility | Indianapolis, Indiana | 2013 | ||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: The Indianapolis Development Facility is home to the HRC-US Indiana Tech Center, providing race preparations support, engineering support and racing simulations for IndyCar race teams. | ||||||||||||||||
Honda Innovations Co., Ltd.
In April 2023, Honda established Honda Innovations Co., Ltd. based in Japan, serving as the global head office function for Honda’s open innovation activities including the Honda Innovations office in Mountain View, California, established in 2011. Honda Xcelerator, the outward-facing program of Honda Innovations, supports technology and business innovators through open innovation. Through the Honda Xcelerator program, Honda partners with innovators, including startups across all funding stages as well as global brands.
| Operation | Location | Began | ||||||||||||||
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| Honda Innovations Office | Mountain View, California | 2011 | ||||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Focus areas include Connected Vehicle/Internet of Things (IoT) services, Human Machine Interface, Machine Intelligence/Robotics, Connected Services, Personal Mobility, Sharing Economy, and Industrial Innovation. | ||||||||||||||||
Honda Research Institute USA, Inc.
Established in 2003, Honda Research Institute is North America’s advanced research center that provides innovative solutions to complex problems with direct applications to Honda’s current and future technology road map.
| Operation | Location | Began | |||||||||||||
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| Silicon Valley Research Office | San Jose, California | 2003 | |||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Advanced technology research. The team of scientists and engineers at Honda Research Institute (HRI) create technologies, often generated through a scientific process, and apply them to real situations, addressing more than just abstract principles. HRI follows an open innovation model that establishes partnerships and alliances with academia and the private sector. |
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| Detroit Research Office | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 1996 | |||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: The Detroit Research Office of HRI conducts research to improve safety for everyone sharing the road, including wireless communication for in-vehicle navigation systems, telematics system design and development, and connected and automated vehicle system research. | |||||||||||||||
| Ohio Research Office (99P Labs) | Columbus, Ohio | 2018 | |||||||||||||
| Responsibilities: Advanced research into energy and battery technologies, mobility-related human-computer interaction and software-defined mobility. Founded by Honda and The Ohio State University, 99P Labs conducts collaborative research and data-driven innovation toward creating a sustainable mobility future. At 99P Labs, students and interns advance innovations through experiential learning and application of design-thinking, data science, software engineering, and unique approaches to prototype testing. |
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