Why Is Honda Changing Its Iconic Logo After All These Years?
Honda announced on Tuesday that it will be changing its iconic “H” logo to represent the company’s “second founding.” What does that even mean?
The Japanese car company says it is adopting a new H mark with a refreshed design “as the new symbol representing the Honda automobile business.” Again, what does that mean?
Honda also says it is introducing the new logo design “in conjunction with the development of next-generation EVs, including the Honda 0 Series.” The upcoming 0 Series, according to the company, is being developed to “create new EVs from ‘zero’ by going back to the starting point of Honda as an automaker.” Okay, but why a new logo?
The car company revamped its original logo, first seen in 1963, in 1969, 1981, 1991, and 2000, so this isn’t completely unprecedented. It’s just been 25 years, or pretty much a full generation, since the last change.
The new logo represents ‘going beyond the origin of Honda,’ whatever that means
“Honda refreshed the H mark design to express its commitment to the transformation of the company as well as its corporate attitude of going beyond the origin of Honda and constantly pursuing new challenges and advancements,” the company said in a press release. “The new design expression, like two outstretched hands, represents the commitment of Honda to augment the possibilities of mobility and sincerely serve the needs of the customers of Honda automobile business.”
I guess that kind of explains it. So, when will we start seeing this new logo? It will appear on the company’s next-generation EVs and hybrid-electric (HEV) models starting in 2027. The logo will also, at some point in the near future, begin appearing at dealership locations, on communication initiatives, and in the company’s motorsports activities.
Further explanation of the new “H” logo comes in the form of more fancy words that actually mean very little.
“The automobile market is currently undergoing a major transformation with electrification and application of intelligent technologies,” Honda explained. “The new H mark will represent the ‘second founding.'” That apparently means they plan to offer “new value that goes beyond customer expectations with cutting-edge technology and ideas without being bound by conventional ideas, practices, and ways of doing things.” Got all that?
