Honda makes Wireds top 40 list
[27] Honda Motor NEW
Innovation hits the road
For most automakers, the glory days seem to have passed. But Honda's best years may lie ahead. Following the Civic Hybrid, the Japanese manufacturer introduced the first hydrogen fuel-cell car, the FCX, now shuttling city workers around Los Angeles. That's not the only forward-looking project on the company's workbench; there's also the Intelligent Community Vehicle System, which lets commuters share cars in downtown Singapore. And don't underestimate the pathbreaking role of the motorcycle, which provides an efficient, low-margin entrée into new markets. Motorbikes gave Honda strong brand recognition in China before it introduced cars. This year, the company expects to double last year's sales and build its second plant there.
Promise: Honda will use emerging technologies to leave competitors in the dust.
Challenge: The company's home market remains a drag on its overall growth.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.07/40main.html
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