Honda's First Vehicle, the T360 Mini Pickup

Honda Motor Co. is widely known as one of Japan’s automotive giants. Its product range spans from motorcycles to cars. However, Honda’s journey in the automotive industry did not begin with cars. The company, founded in 1948, initially produced power units for bicycles. From there, Honda rapidly grew into one of the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturers.

The arrival of the T360 marked an important milestone for Honda as it broadened its horizons into the car industry, after previously achieving great success in the motorcycle segment.

‘With a strong economic backdrop, interest and expectations for the development of motorisation in Japan grew,’ Honda Global wrote, quoted on Sunday (8/3/2026). ‘In this context, Honda Motor Co. began preparing steps to enter the car market. In 1963, Honda launched the Honda T360, their first kei-class light truck. The launch signalled Honda’s journey as a car manufacturer,’ it wrote.

According to Honda Arta, the T360 is a small pickup with a 356 cc four-cylinder engine capable of producing around 30 hp at 8,500 rpm. This model was Honda’s first car produced on a mass scale. The T360’s popularity brought Honda success in Japan’s domestic market. In the production period from 1963 to 1967, this pickup sold 108,290 units.

One of the T360’s quirks is its engine placement. The car’s engine was placed beneath the seat, allowing the rear space to be used more effectively for carrying goods.