Dongfeng Honda

Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd.
Native name	东风本田汽车有限公司
Type	Joint venture
Industry	Automotive industry
Founded	16 July 2003
Headquarters	Wuhan, China
Area served	China
Key people	Takehiro Watanabe (President)
Products	Automobiles
Number of employees	Approximately 9,400 (2024)
Parent	Dongfeng Motor Group (50%)Honda Motor Company (40%)Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (10%)
Website	www.dongfeng-honda.com

‘’‘Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd.’’’ (Chinese: 东风本田汽车有限公司; pinyin: Dōngfēng Běntián Qìchē Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī) is a Chinese automobile manufacturing joint venture headquartered in Wuhan, Hubei, China. It was established in July 2003 as a joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Group and Honda Motor Company. Dongfeng owns 50% of the company, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. owns 40%, and Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. owns the remaining 10%."Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd". Dongfeng Honda. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

The company manufactures and sells Honda-branded passenger cars primarily for the Chinese market. It has produced models including the Honda CR-V, Honda Civic, Honda XR-V, Honda Elysion, Honda Inspire and other China-market vehicles. Dongfeng Honda has also produced vehicles under the Ciimo marque and participates in Honda's electrification strategy in China through the production of battery-electric and other new-energy vehicles."Honda Reaches 15 Million-Unit Mark in Cumulative Automobile Sales in China". Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

As of 2024, Dongfeng Honda operates three conventional automobile production plants and a dedicated new-energy-vehicle production plant in Wuhan. Honda lists annual production capacities of approximately 240,000 units for each of the first three plants and 120,000 units for the NEV plant, giving a combined designed capacity of approximately 840,000 vehicles annually."Manufacturing Facilities: Asia Oceania; China". Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

History

Establishment

Dongfeng Honda was established in Wuhan on 16 July 2003 as part of Honda's expansion of automobile production in China. The joint venture was capitalized at approximately US$1.448 billion and was established with Dongfeng holding 50%, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. holding 40%, and Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. holding 10%."Dongfeng Honda Holds Opening Ceremony for New Energy Vehicle Production Plant in China". Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

Dongfeng Honda began automobile production in April 2004 with the Honda CR-V. The model quickly became an important product for the joint venture and helped establish Dongfeng Honda in China's growing sport utility vehicle market. Honda's historical account states that more than 10,000 CR-Vs were sold during the first six months of production in China."Chapter II: Global Expansion of Business — China". Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

Expansion and second plant

Following the success of the CR-V, Dongfeng Honda expanded its production capacity in order to manufacture additional models, including the Honda Civic. Honda constructed a second production facility in Wuhan while the original plant continued operating.

The second plant began production in July 2012. Honda's historical production data lists the second plant as having an annual production capacity of approximately 240,000 vehicles."75 Years of Honda History — Production" (PDF). Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

Third plant

Dongfeng Honda announced plans for a third automobile production plant in December 2016 as part of an expansion of Honda's production capacity in China. The third plant was planned with an annual capacity of approximately 120,000 vehicles in its initial configuration."Dongfeng Honda to Build Third Automobile Production Plant in China". Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

The third plant began production in 2019 and subsequently formed part of Dongfeng Honda's expanded three-plant manufacturing network. Honda lists the plant at an annual production capacity of approximately 240,000 vehicles.

Electrification and NEV plant

In January 2022, Honda announced that Dongfeng Honda would construct a dedicated electric-vehicle production plant in the Wuhan Economic Development Zone. The plant was designed with a production capacity of approximately 120,000 vehicles annually and included stamping, welding, painting, assembly and vehicle inspection facilities."Dongfeng Honda to Build a Dedicated Electric Vehicle Production Plant". Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

The dedicated new-energy-vehicle plant began operations in October 2024. Honda described it as its first dedicated electric-vehicle production plant anywhere in the world. The facility was designed around highly automated and digitalized production processes and has an annual production capacity of approximately 120,000 vehicles.

The plant initially produced new-energy models including the Honda e:NS2 and other electric vehicles developed for the Chinese market.

Manufacturing facilities

Dongfeng Honda's manufacturing operations are concentrated in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

Facility	Start of production	Annual capacity	Notes
First Plant	April 2004	240,000	Produces various Honda passenger vehicles and powertrain components
Second Plant	July 2012	240,000	Produces models including Civic and other China-market vehicles
Third Plant	2019	240,000	Expanded Dongfeng Honda's conventional vehicle production
NEV Production Plant	October 2024	120,000	Dedicated new-energy-vehicle production facility

The first plant occupies approximately 690,000 square metres and contains production facilities for stamping, welding, painting, plastic components, engine casting, machining, engine assembly, vehicle inspection and final assembly. It also contains a research and development centre."Dongfeng Honda First Factory". Dongfeng Honda. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

The second plant covers approximately 1.05 million square metres and contains stamping, welding, painting, plastic-component, engine-assembly, final-assembly and vehicle-inspection operations. Dongfeng Honda states that the facility has an annual capacity of approximately 240,000 vehicles."Dongfeng Honda Second Factory". Dongfeng Honda. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

The third plant occupies approximately 1.2 million square metres and began production in April 2019. The plant has an annual production capacity of approximately 240,000 vehicles.

The NEV plant occupies approximately 630,000–640,000 square metres and has a basic annual production capacity of 120,000 vehicles. The facility was designed specifically for new-energy vehicles and incorporates automated and digitalized production systems."Dongfeng Honda to Build a Dedicated Electric Vehicle Production Plant". Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

Products

Dongfeng Honda produces Honda-branded automobiles for the Chinese market. Its product range has included sport utility vehicles, sedans, minivans and electric vehicles.

Current and recent models

Models produced or marketed by Dongfeng Honda have included:

Honda's historical production records list the CR-V, Inspire, UR-V, XR-V, X-NV and M-NV among models associated with Dongfeng Honda's first plant, while the second plant has produced models including the Civic, Civic Hatchback, Envix and Life.

Ciimo

Dongfeng Honda has also been associated with the ‘’‘Ciimo’’’ (思铭) marque, a China-market brand introduced by the joint venture. The brand was established as part of Dongfeng Honda's efforts to expand its product range beyond vehicles sold directly under the Honda name.

New-energy vehicles

Electrification became an increasingly important part of Dongfeng Honda's operations during the 2020s. Honda announced plans to introduce a broader range of battery-electric vehicles in China, including vehicles belonging to the e:N series and the newer Ye series.

The Dongfeng Honda NEV plant was developed specifically to support this transition. Honda stated that the facility would form part of its strategy to expand its electric-vehicle lineup in China, with a target of introducing 10 Honda-brand EV models in China by 2027.

The company has produced China-market electric vehicles including the Honda e:NS1 and Honda e:NS2, while the newer Honda S7 is part of the company's subsequent electric-vehicle expansion.

Production and sales

Dongfeng Honda experienced substantial growth during its first two decades of operation as Honda expanded its presence in the Chinese automobile market.

Honda reported that Dongfeng Honda and its sister joint venture, GAC Honda, together accounted for a major share of Honda's Chinese automobile production. In 2023, production by the two Chinese Honda joint ventures totaled approximately 1.306 million vehicles, a decrease of 19.4% from the previous year."Honda Production, Sales and Export Results for December 2023". Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

Dongfeng Honda's production capacity increased from 720,000 vehicles annually across its three conventional plants to approximately 840,000 vehicles when the 120,000-unit NEV plant became operational.

In March 2025, Dongfeng Honda reported sales of 48,930 vehicles for the month, with year-to-date sales of 89,638 vehicles. These figures were reported by Dongfeng Motor Group as unaudited production and sales data."Production and Sales Volume of Dongfeng Motor Group at March 2025" (PDF). Dongfeng Motor Group. 7 April 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

Corporate structure

Dongfeng Honda is jointly owned by three entities:

Shareholder	Ownership
Dongfeng Motor Group	50%
Honda Motor Company	40%
Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd.	10%

The three shareholders provide the company with access to Dongfeng's Chinese manufacturing and distribution network and Honda's automobile technology, product development and global engineering resources.

History

Dongfeng Honda was established in July 2003^[1] and began automobile production in April 2004 with the Honda CR-V sport utility vehicle.^[2]

In February 2006, Dongfeng Honda completed a 2.8 billion yuan (US$340 million) expansion of its production facility quadrupling production capacity to 120,000 units.^[3] In May 2008, it announced plans to double production capacity to 240,000 vehicles a year with an investment of 10 billion RMB.^[4]^[5] In 2010, Dongfeng Honda's first sub-brand Ciimo was founded, with first model presented in 2011.^[6]

As of 2011, product part-content included parts manufactured in Japan.^[7] Honda builds a second Wuhan factory in 2012, a third in 2018, takes over an idle Shenlong factory in 2021 and announces an all-new BEV-only factory earlier this year. Almost at the same time as Dongfeng Honda, the Japanese set up a third joint venture plant called Honda Automobile (China). Honda owns a majority of 65%, GAC holds 25% and Dongfeng has 10%. This plant is only used for export to Asia and the Middle East.

In 2022, the company became more heavily involved in sourcing batteries for electric vehicles.^[8] In 2023, a second sub-brand of the joint venture, Lingxi, was introduced, under which exclusively electric cars are to be marketed.^[9] The first model is the 4.83 meter long sedan Lingxi L.^[10]

In August 2025, Dongfeng Motor Group announced the termination of its partnership with Honda, due to losses related to the production of combustion cars and the Chinese market's shift to electric vehicles.^[11]^[12]

Operations

As of 2016, Dongfeng Honda had two completed production bases and a third planned. The proposed factory will be situated near its 2004 and 2012 production bases in Wuhan, Hubei.^[13]

Products

Honda

CR-V (2004–present)
Civic (2006–present)
Elysion (2012–present)
HR-V (2023–present)
Inspire (2018–present)
UR-V (2017–present)
XR-V (2014–present)
e:NS2 (2024–present)
S7 (2025–present)
GT

Ciimo

Ciimo is a sub-marque of Dongfeng Honda launched in April 2012 and aimed at first-time car buyers. It markets a rebadged eighth-generation Honda Civic featuring the design of the Japanese market model.^[14] The Ciimo brand's second product is the X-NV, which is a rebadged Honda XR-V featuring slightly restyled front end design and clear tail lamps.

Lingxi

Lingxi is a new energy vehicle brand under the Dongfeng Honda joint venture, established in September 2023. The Lingxi L is the first electric vehicle under the brand.