Honda Vietnam produces 20th million motorcycle

                                                                          Photo: SGGP

Air Blade rolls off its production floor in Ha Nam province.

Honda Vietnam (HVN) reached another important milestone in its history on September 30, producing its 20 millionth motorcycle, an Air Blade, at its factory in northern Ha Nam province.

HVN arrived in Vietnam in 1996 and rolled out its first motorcycle, a Honda Dream, in December 1997. It reached 1 million motorcycles in 2003 and then five million in 1998, 10 million in 2011 and 15 million in 2014.

According to a representative from HVN, for every 20 Vietnamese people there is one riding a Honda.

It is the largest motorcycle maker in the country, with a market share of over 70 per cent.

HVN has 12 models made and distributed in Vietnam, with best sellers including the Honda Wave Alpha, Air Blade, and Vision.

It began to export motorcycle accessories and parts in 2002 and motorcycles in 2012. As at December 2015 it had exported nearly 225,000 worth more than $320 million. The company has also spent millions of dollars in building warehouses for its import and export activities.

When formed in March 1996 it had charter capital of $62.9 million, with Honda Motor Japan holding 42 per cent, Asian Honda Motor 28 per cent, and the Vietnam Engine and Agricultural Machinery Corporation (VEAM) 30 per cent. It invested more than $290 million in its first factory and $65 million in a second factory, both in northern Vinh Phuc province, and then spent another $120 million on its third factory, in Ha Nam province.

As a good corporate citizen, HVN has initiated various social activities in fields such as education, environmental conservation, community support, and traffic safety. One of the highlights is its efforts to raise awareness and knowledge about safe driving behavior.

In 1999 HVN established the Traffic Safety Center in Vinh Phuc province to provide safe driving training to customers, government officials and the general public. The Center has also provided extensive training to 1,500 instructors so they can teach customers and the public.

Nearly 6 million people have taken training courses at the Traffic Safety Center, through motorcycles and automobile dealers, and at schools and universities. HVN also promotes traffic safety knowledge via a TV program called “I Love Vietnam”. The program has been broadcast on national television for over eleven years, contributing to raising awareness and knowledge on traffic safety among millions of TV viewers.

by Duy Anh / vneconomictimes