Honda in the UK

Honda in the UK...

The history of Honda motorcycle business in the UK...


Honda began producing motorcycles in Japan in 1947 and around 10 years later Honda motorcycles started to become available in the UK. 

At first, distribution of Honda motorcycles in the UK was somewhat confusing! During 1957/58 a number of enterprising British dealers privately imported Honda motorcycles, mainly from Germany. Then, during 1959/60 formal distributor appointments were made by Honda Motor Company to the following three distributors, based on the size of the various Honda models as available at the time.

50cc models:
- Scootamatic Limited of 155 Glaisdale Street, Aspley, Nottingham  

Over 50cc models:
- Maico (GB) Limited* of 81a Gloucester Road, London SW7

All models:
- Artie Bell of 456 Woodstock Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland

* Maico (GB) Limited changed their name to Hondis Limited in October 1961.

For the above, all machines and parts were imported to the UK via European Honda Motor Trading GMBH based in Hamburg, Germany.

Such was the demand for these new motorcycles from the Far-East that by early 1962 the above three distributors had appointed over 200 Honda retail dealers throughout the UK. 

In November 1962, European Honda Motor Trading GMBH established an additional office in the UK at 2 Manorgate Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey as a formal subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Japan. Distribution of all Honda products was now from this office, and at some point around this time a Honda Parts & Service base was established in Wollaton Road, Nottingham.

During late 1964, European Honda Motor Trading moved its offices to 4 Power Road, Chiswick, London W4 (pictured above). The company also started to change its trading name and by September 1965 Honda (UK) Limited was formally established and registered at these new offices, what was to become their long-term permanent base.

The Parts & Service operation remained in Nottingham for a short while but later also moved to Power Road with a much larger warehouse facility.

4 Power Road became the most established and recognised address for Honda in the UK. It was where sales, during the burgeoning decades of the 1970s & 80s, took them to the countries Number 1 slot and when over 800 (early 1980s) retail dealers throughout the UK had been established.

In May 2000, Honda UK moved to 470 London Road, Slough, Berkshire (beside the M4) where they remained until October 2014 when they moved to their current location at Cain Road, Bracknell, Berkshire.

Today (2024), such are the market conditions, around 70 retail dealers represent Honda motorcycle sales throughout the UK.
Share by: