TOKYO, Japan — Honda has unveiled a refreshed version of its iconic “H” logo, marking the automaker’s first major emblem redesign in more than two decades as it accelerates a strategic pivot toward electric and hybrid vehicles.
The new logo, announced on January 13, 2026, is being introduced as part of what Honda describes as its “second founding”—a renewed corporate direction focused on expanding mobility solutions while remaining anchored to the company’s engineering roots.
Honda revealed the updated emblem on its Zero Series electric vehicles, saying the redesign reflects “the corporate attitude of going beyond our origin and constantly pursuing new challenges and advancements.”
The new mark departs from the familiar metallic grey “H” enclosed in a rounded rectangle that has defined Honda vehicles since 2000.
Instead, it adopts a flatter, more open form that the company says resembles “two outstretched hands.”
According to Honda, the design symbolises its commitment to “augment the possibilities of mobility and face our users sincerely,” underscoring a shift toward user-centred innovation in an era of electrification, software-driven vehicles, and autonomous technologies.
The rollout will begin in 2027, initially appearing on Honda’s electric lineup and key hybrid models before gradually expanding across the broader vehicle range.
The company confirmed the logo will also be adopted across its wider business ecosystem, including dealership branding and motorsport activities.
The “H” emblem has been central to Honda’s global identity since 1963, when the company entered the automobile market with the T360 mini-truck and S500 sports car.
The original logo was a simple standalone letter, evolving through redesigns in 1969, 1981, and 2000, each reflecting changes in design language, manufacturing scal,e and global reach.
The 2000 version—metallic, three-dimensional and framed—became closely associated with Honda’s reputation for durability, fuel efficiency and engineering reliability, particularly across its sedans, SUVs and performance models.
While the redesign aligns with broader industry trends toward minimalist branding in the electric era, reaction online has been mixed.
Another questioned Honda’s explanation of the design, commenting: “Does Honda’s new logo look like two outstretched hands to you? Maybe two outstretched hands in an SOS distress signal for help!”
Honda’s corporate story began in 1946, when self-taught engineer Soichiro Honda fitted surplus engines onto bicycles to provide affordable post-war transportation in Japan.
In 1948, he partnered with Takeo Fujisawa to form Honda Motor Co., Ltd., combining engineering ingenuity with disciplined business strategy.
The company’s first original motorcycle, the Dream D-Type launched in 1949, set Honda on a path of rapid growth. By 1959, Honda had become the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, a position it retains today.
Honda entered the global automotive spotlight in the 1970s with the Civic’s CVCC engine, which met stringent emissions standards during the oil crisis without requiring catalytic converters—cementing the brand’s image as an engineering-led, environmentally conscious manufacturer.
In later decades, Honda expanded into luxury vehicles (Acura), robotics (ASIMO), aviation (HondaJet) and advanced hybrid technology, including North America’s first mass-market hybrid, the Insight, launched in 1999.
Today, as competition intensifies in the global EV market, Honda says the new logo represents continuity rather than rupture—an evolution aligned with its long-standing philosophy of “Man Maximum, Machine Minimum.”
