what car brands does honda own

[SanTravis]

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. owns several other automotive brands, primarily through its subsidiaries. The most significant is the Acura luxury division, which is fully owned and operated by Honda. Beyond that, Honda holds major stakes in other companies, but it does not fully own their brands in the way a conglomerate like Volkswagen Group does. For instance, Honda is a major shareholder in the Chinese automaker GAC Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. and has a strategic alliance with General Motors for developing technologies, but it does not own the GM brand.

The core of Honda's brand ownership is its direct control over Acura, created in 1986 to compete in the premium North American market. Acura vehicles often share platforms and engineering with Honda models but feature more luxurious appointments and advanced technology. This structure is simpler than that of many competitors, focusing on a tight integration between its mainstream and luxury offerings rather than acquiring pre-existing brands.

The following table details the key brands and companies associated with Honda's ownership structure:

Brand/Company Name	Relationship to Honda	Key Models/Areas of Focus	Ownership Stake/Note
Acura	Fully owned luxury division	TLX, MDX, RDX, Integra	100% owned and operated by Honda.
GAC Honda	Joint Venture Partner	Specifically for the Chinese market (e.g., Honda models badged as GAC-Honda).	50% stake in the joint venture.
Dongfeng Honda	Joint Venture Partner	Manufactures and sells Honda models for the Chinese market.	50% stake in the joint venture.
General Motors (GM)	Strategic Alliance Partner	Co-development of hydrogen fuel cells, EVs, and autonomous driving tech.	Collaboration and cross-shareholding, not ownership.
Sony Honda Mobility	Joint Venture	Developing and selling high-value EV (Afeela brand).	50/50 joint venture with Sony.
Hitachi Astemo	Affiliate Company	Manufactures automotive parts (shocks, brakes, powertrain systems).	Honda holds a significant minority stake.

[VanGeorge]

Honestly, when I think of Honda, I just think of Honda and Acura. My first car was a Civic, and now I drive an Acura MDX. The dealer told me they're from the same company, which makes sense—the MDX feels like a super nice, more powerful Honda Pilot. They share a lot under the hood. I don't really consider Honda as "owning" other brands like Ford or Chevy. It's pretty straightforward: you've got your reliable everyday Hondas and your fancier Acuras.

[VanSara]

From a business perspective, Honda's portfolio is lean compared to rivals like Toyota or Volkswagen. Their primary owned brand is Acura, their in-house luxury division. They don't acquire legacy brands; instead, they form strategic joint ventures, like their partnerships in China with GAC and Dongfeng to manufacture and sell vehicles in that critical market. They also have technology-sharing alliances, notably with General Motors. This approach allows them to share costs and expertise without the complexity of fully integrating separate brand identities.

[MaciLynn]

I follow the tech side of cars, and Honda's ownership is interesting. It's not just about car brands. They have a big stake in Hitachi Astemo, a major supplier for automotive parts like electric powertrains. More recently, they teamed up with Sony to create Sony Honda Mobility, focusing on next-generation EVs that integrate Sony's entertainment tech. So, while Acura is their main automotive brand, their ownership strategy is expanding into high-tech partnerships that will define the future of driving.