Honda has contributed much to various charities and good causes over the years, including donations and loans of vehicles. You can’t make an illegal left turn in Pasadena without running into a Honda Tournament of Roses Odyssey, for instance.
The brand will continue that wheeled goodwill when the Olympics comes to Los Angeles in 2028, with a fleet of all manner of Honda vehicles to be used by organizers and others in support of the Olympics and Special Olympic Games getting under way in three years.
“Honda will help the world’s greatest athletes pursue their dreams in 2028 as a Founding Partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” the carmaker announced yesterday at its Torrance, California, headquarters, just a half hour’s freeway drive south of the very Coliseum that hosted the Games in 1932 and 1984—and will host them again in ‘28.
Exactly which Hondas will be involved has not been sorted out yet.
“It’ll be a lot of Honda and Acura EVs,” said Phil Hruka, senior manager of marketing and brand strategy for Honda and Acura. “It won’t just be cars and SUVs. Look for our ATVs, motorcycles, side-by-sides, marine engines, and Motocompactos, too.”
Honda’s sponsorship of the Paralympic Games was highlighted by the presence of paralympic wheelchair athlete Susannah Scaroni, who has been working with Honda on her racing wheelchair since the company started building them in 2021.
Scaroni showed me photos of her race chair, with a carbon-fiber seat that had been created from scans of her body, and tuned for aerodynamic efficiency. The front wheel has properties that keep it centered while moving, but with her form-fitted seat she can turn it just by leaning her body.
“It’s a lot better,” she said of the Honda wheelchair’s performance.
US Olympic gold medalist Susannah Scaroni. Joe Scarnici
Honda’s $1 million investment allows it to serve as the Official Automotive Partner of Team USA, supporting the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams during the LA28 Games and the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina 2026.
Honda’s by no means the only automaker involved in charitable giving: Toyota USA Foundation is known for its support of K-12 STEM education; General Motors supports STEAM education wherein the A stands for Arts; Hyundai’s Hope On Wheels supports pediatric cancer research; and the Ford Foundation supports causes too numerous to name here. That’s just a few automotive charities.
And yes, there are probably tax benefits and good PR. Nonetheless…
Look for Honda vehicles starting at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina next year, and all over LA in 2028.
