What Was the First Car America Got From Honda?

Carlos Kirby
· 3 min read
Honda
is currently one of the most popular car companies in America, competing with other major brands like Ford and Toyota.
The brand started to expand its presence in the U.S. market during the 70s. Honda sold
motorcycles
at first but later shifted to cars due to their popularity and consumer demand for fuel-efficient modes of transport. That's when Honda released its N600 model.
The Honda N600 had an innovative design that was both practical and affordable. The N600 opened up doors for many future models from the Japanese brand, and Honda makes up some of the best-selling cars today.
The first honda model to hit the US market was the N600.

The N600 was the first Honda car available in America

According to
HotCars
, the N600 was the first car that Honda exported to the U.S. market and it kickstarted the popularity of Honda vehicles. It came out when American cars were becoming bigger and thirstier for fuel amidst the oil crisis of the 1970s.
The Yom Kippur War caused the Middle East to be at odds with America's ally, Israel. Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations responded by establishing an oil embargo against the U.S., affecting gasoline prices across the country. This created the perfect opportunity for Japanese companies like Honda and their N600 to step into the market.
The small car's fuel-efficient engine showed American families that they could own a cost-friendly vehicle without sacrificing power or size. Honda's success helped establish the brand as one of America's top car manufacturers.
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The Honda N600 sales numbers

MORE: Proof That Honda Does Small Cars Better Than Anyone
Between 1967 and 1972, about 25,000 N600s were sold in America. According to
Honda
, the starting price for each unit was $1,300, which was quite affordable at the time.
These new Japanese rides had a lot to like. Even with a motor that made between 30 and 40 horsepower, the N600's buzzy engine revved up to 9000 rpm. This was a unique quality that Honda continued to implement on their V-tec systems later on.

After the N600 came the Civic

MORE: Is a 2010 Honda Accord a Good Used Car?
Due to the success of the N600, Honda sales boomed in the 1970s, with Honda cars becoming more common. Honda would release its Honda Civic in 1972, which became an instant hit. In 1976, the Accord joined forces with the Civic to create a duo of Hondas that's been among the top models in America for over 35 years.
The Honda Civic was made to fulfill the demand for gasoline-efficient, powerful, and small vehicles, giving Americans what they needed during the oil crisis. Honda continues to sell Civic vehicles, a staple of American roads. There have been over 20 million Civics sold to date.
Honda is now one of America's leading car brands, known for its fuel efficiency and affordability. The Honda N600 gave a great start to the brand that has now grown across the world.

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