Who are Acura cars made by?
Acura is a luxury automotive brand that is owned and operated by the Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. Acura vehicles are designed, engineered, and manufactured by Honda, but they are marketed and sold as a separate premium brand to compete with other luxury marques like Lexus, Infiniti, and BMW.
Honda's Luxury Division
Acura was launched in 1986 as Honda's luxury division, with the goal of offering more premium and technologically advanced vehicles to the North American market. The first two Acura models introduced were the Legend sedan and the Integra sports car/hatchback. Acura was the first Japanese luxury automotive brand to be introduced in the United States.
Over the years, Acura has expanded its lineup to include a variety of sedans, SUVs, and crossovers, all of which are built on Honda platforms but feature more upscale designs, materials, and features. Some of Acura's current models include the TLX sedan, the RDX and MDX SUVs, and the NSX supercar.
Acura's Relationship with Honda
While Acura is a separate brand from Honda, the two companies are closely linked. Acura vehicles are designed, engineered, and manufactured by Honda, utilizing many of the same components and technologies found in Honda's mainstream models. This allows Acura to leverage Honda's engineering expertise and manufacturing capabilities, while still offering a more premium and distinctive product.
At the same time, Acura has its own dedicated design, engineering, and marketing teams that work to differentiate the brand from Honda and give Acura vehicles a unique identity. Acura also has its own dealer network and sales channels, separate from Honda's mainstream dealerships.
Acura's Global Presence
Acura is primarily sold in North America, with the majority of its sales coming from the United States. However, the brand has also been introduced in other markets, including China, Hong Kong, and parts of Southeast Asia. Acura's global expansion has been more limited compared to other luxury automotive brands, but the company continues to explore opportunities to grow the brand internationally.
Overall, Acura represents Honda's efforts to compete in the lucrative and prestigious luxury automotive market, leveraging the company's engineering prowess and manufacturing capabilities to offer a more premium and distinctive product to consumers.