INDEX / DIRECTORY / HONDA / MILITARY

Honda MILITARY

MILITARY AUDIT UPDATED 2026-07-04
Military Score 0.05 /10 E Honda - BDS-1000 156
Military 0.05

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Military Audit - Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Audit Phase: Military | Target Company: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | Date of Research: 30 June 2026

Direct Defence Contracting & Procurement

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese multinational producing automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, with a commercial presence in Israel established since 1989 12. Its Israeli market operations are conducted exclusively through its authorised distributor, Mayer Cars & Trucks Co., Ltd. (Mayer Group), which holds the Honda franchise for passenger cars, motorcycles, and Honda Power Products 34.

Direct Contracts with Israeli Security Bodies - Honda Motor Co.:

No public evidence identified of a direct contract, tender award, framework agreement, or memorandum of understanding between Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and the Israeli Ministry of Defence (IMOD), the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Israel Border Police, Israel Prison Service, or any other Israeli state security body. No Honda-related entries have been identified in SIBAT (Israel’s Defence Export & Defence Cooperation Directorate) listings, international defence exhibition catalogues, or Israeli government procurement registries consulted for this audit.

Mayer Cars & Trucks Co. - Documented IMOD Supply Contracts:

According to a Freedom of Information response cited by Who Profits, Mayer Cars & Trucks Co. supplied the IMOD between 2017 and 2021 with Volvo vehicles, Volvo spare parts, and maintenance services totalling NIS 28,104,830.98 5. Over the same period, Mayer supplied the IMOD with a separate category described as “engines, generators and spare parts” valued at NIS 17,792,161.94 5. The specific sub-brands within this engines and generators tranche are not confirmed in publicly available sources as including Honda-branded products, given that Mayer distributes multiple brands including Volvo, Renault Trucks, and Honda Power Products 53.

Mayer supplied the Israeli Police with maintenance services and bus sales valued at NIS 1,123,697 in 2020 5. Supply to the Israeli Prison Service is recorded in the Who Profits profile of Mayer Cars & Trucks, but specific product categories and contract values within that relationship are not confirmed in publicly available sources retrieved for this audit 5.

Dual-Use Products & Tactical Variants

Honda CBX750 - Israeli Military Police Corps (Historical Use):

The Honda CBX750 (in-line four-cylinder, 750 cc) was historically used by the Israeli Military Police Corps 6. The Military Police Corps (Israel) Wikipedia article lists the Honda CBX750 under “Motorcycles” with the annotation “not used anymore” 6, a status corroborated by the IDF equipment list 7. The law-enforcement-specific variant, the Honda CBX750P, was manufactured with police modifications including loudspeakers and a meter-stop function, and was deployed by law enforcement agencies across multiple countries 8. The precise year of retirement of the CBX750 from Israeli Military Police service is not specified in the Military Police Corps or IDF equipment sources retrieved for this audit 67.

No current (post-2020) supply of Honda motorcycles or other Honda-branded vehicles to the Israeli Military Police Corps, IDF, or Border Police is confirmed in publicly available sources consulted for this audit 67. Mayer Group distributes Honda motorcycles commercially in Israel 9.

Honda Power Products - Civilian-to-Military Distinction:

Mayer Group distributes Honda Power Products - generators, engines, and water pumps - across the Israeli civilian market 3. No public evidence identified confirming that Honda-branded generators or engines were specifically included, as distinct from Volvo or other Mayer-distributed brands, in the IMOD “engines, generators and spare parts” category (NIS 17,792,161.94, 2017–2021) documented in the Who Profits profile 5.

Export Classification:

No public evidence identified of export licence applications, end-user certificates, or government export control reviews specifically covering Honda products supplied to Israeli defence or security end-users in any jurisdiction.

Heavy Machinery, Construction & Infrastructure

Honda-Branded Equipment in Occupied Territories:

No public evidence identified of Honda-branded heavy machinery, construction vehicles, or equipment documented in settlement construction, maintenance, demolition operations, separation barrier construction, or military infrastructure projects in the occupied Palestinian territories. For contextual disambiguation: Volvo construction machinery, distributed in Israel through Mayer, has been separately documented in Palestinian home demolitions and separation barrier construction - but this is Volvo-branded machinery, not Honda 5.

Mayer Group - Mishor Adumim Industrial Zone (Occupied West Bank):

Mayer Cars & Trucks Co. operates a vehicle service centre in the Mishor Adumim Industrial Zone, located on occupied West Bank land 5. In 2017, Mayer’s subsidiary K.S. Holdings & Properties Mayer Ltd. mortgaged a 9,163 square-metre commercial property at Mishor Adumim for NIS 2,500,000 under a Civil Administration leasing arrangement 5.

Merkavim Transportation Technologies - Armoured Settlement Buses:

Merkavim Transportation Technologies Ltd., a 73.4%-owned Mayer subsidiary and joint venture with Volvo Group, manufactures armoured buses deployed on routes serving Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and operates a service centre in the Mishor Adumim Industrial Zone 5. Al-Haq’s April 2018 formal letter to Honda President and CEO Takahiro Hachigo expressly cited Mayer’s role in “manufacturing armoured buses that are used to transport settlers” as a ground for its human rights concerns 1011. Merkavim Transportation Technologies Ltd. is listed in the UN OHCHR Settlement Business Database under activity code (e), denoting “provision of services and utilities supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements” 1213.

No public evidence identified of Honda Motor Co. holding contracts for construction, maintenance, or expansion of military checkpoints, detention facilities, IDF bases, the separation barrier, or settlement infrastructure.

Supply Chain Integration with Defence Primes

Direct Component Supply to Israeli Defence Manufacturers:

No public evidence identified of Honda Motor Co. supplying components, sub-systems, raw materials, or specialist manufacturing services to Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, or Israel Military Industries.

Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd. - Honda Motor Affiliate:

Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd. is a publicly traded Japanese auto-parts manufacturer in which Honda Motor Co. holds a 24.97% voting stake, with Honda Group–related business accounting for more than half of Musashi’s consolidated net sales 14. Corporate filings and press releases consistently describe Musashi Seimitsu as a “Honda Motor Corporation Affiliate Company” 15.

MusashiAI Joint Venture with SixAi Ltd.:

In 2019, Musashi Seimitsu formed the MusashiAI joint venture with Israeli robotics firm SixAi Ltd. (Neve Ilan), targeting autonomous industrial inspection robots and factory-automation applications for Industry 4.0 manufacturing environments 1516. SixAi separately announced a $40 million investment partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to commercialise IAI’s military drone and energy technology for civilian market applications 16. The MusashiAI joint venture is structurally distinct from SixAi’s IAI military-commercialisation fund, and MusashiAI’s stated scope is civilian factory robotics 1516. No public evidence identified that the MusashiAI joint venture involves military-purpose technology or direct engagement with IAI defence systems.

Aquarius Engines Ltd. - Musashi Seimitsu Strategic Investment:

Musashi Seimitsu became a controlling shareholder in Aquarius Engines Ltd. (Tel Aviv Stock Exchange listed) under a strategic agreement covering R&D, assembly, distribution, and sales of Aquarius linear engines and generators 1718. Aquarius Engines separately signed a five-year R&D contract with the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM), subsequently extended to July 2027 19. The Aquarius–Musashi agreement is framed around civilian generator and automotive applications, and no confirmed Israeli military supply contract for Aquarius Engines has been identified in publicly available sources 1718.

No public evidence identified of joint development programmes, co-production agreements, technology transfer, or licensed manufacturing between Honda Motor Co. directly and any Israeli defence prime contractor.

Honda Xcelerator Ventures - Israeli Innovation Engagement:

Honda Xcelerator Ventures has engaged with the Israeli tech ecosystem since at least 2015 20, and continues to list Israel as an active geographic investment region 21. Honda separately partnered in February 2017 with the DRIVE smart mobility innovation hub in Tel Aviv, a centre co-founded by major automotive OEMs to identify mobility-sector startups 2223. No public evidence identified of specific Honda Xcelerator Ventures Israeli portfolio companies with confirmed defence or security sector applications.

Logistical Sustainment & Base Services

Honda - Direct Military Logistics and Base Service Contracts:

No public evidence identified of Honda-branded contracts to provide catering, transport, fuel supply, waste management, telecommunications, or facilities management services to IDF bases, military training facilities, detention centres, or Israeli security installations.

Kavim Public Transportation Ltd. - Settlement Bus Services:

Mayer Cars & Trucks Co. holds a 50% ownership stake in Kavim Public Transportation Ltd. 24. Kavim operates bus services to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, including Beitar Illit, Modi’in Illit, Givat Ze’ev, Ariel, Ramot, and Gilo 24. Kavim won a tender in 2012 for Modi’in Illit services, with a 2016 contract extending those services to 2028 24. Kavim Public Transportation Ltd. is listed in the UN OHCHR Settlement Business Database under activity codes (e) and (g) 1213. No public evidence identified of Kavim providing direct logistical services to military installations.

Mayer Group - Off-Road Vehicle Procurement:

In April 2023, the Mayer Group signed a deal to purchase hundreds of off-road vehicles 25. The specific brands and intended end-users of these vehicles are not confirmed in publicly available sources retrieved for this audit 25.

Shipping, Freight & Port Services:

No public evidence identified of Honda shipping or freight contracts serving Israeli defence logistics, military cargo channels, or related supply-chain services.

Munitions, Weapons Systems & Strategic Platforms

Lethal Systems Manufacturing:

No public evidence identified of Honda Motor Co. as a prime contractor or licensed manufacturer of lethal weapons platforms supplied to Israeli armed forces.

Munitions & Precursor Materials:

No public evidence identified of Honda supplying ammunition, explosive ordnance, chemical propellants, warhead components, or munitions precursor materials to Israeli defence end-users.

Strategic Defence Platforms:

No public evidence identified of Honda involvement in Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow missile defence, the F-35 programme, the Merkava main battle tank, or any other Israeli strategic or existential-tier defence platform.

Sub-System & Critical Component Supply:

No public evidence identified of Honda supplying guidance electronics, fire-control systems, radar components, propulsion units, or warhead casings to Israeli armed forces or Israeli defence prime contractors.

Export Licensing, Regulatory & Legal History

Export Licence Decisions:

No public evidence identified of any government decision in any jurisdiction to grant, deny, suspend, or revoke an export licence specifically covering Honda products destined for Israeli military or security end-users.

Historical End of Arab Boycott Compliance:

Honda moved to supply car parts directly to Israel in December 1989, a step contemporaneously reported as signalling the end of Honda’s adherence to the Arab League boycott of Israel, and which simultaneously established the Mayer Cars & Trucks distribution relationship that persists to the present 234.

Mayer Group - Off-Road Vehicle Procurement Context:

The Mayer Group’s April 2023 deal to purchase hundreds of off-road vehicles is on the public record 25; no export licence review, government control action, or end-use certificate has been identified in connection with this procurement in publicly available sources 25.

Arms Embargo & Sanctions Compliance:

No public evidence identified of investigations, enforcement actions, citations, or penalty proceedings relating to Honda’s compliance with arms embargoes, export control regimes (including EAR, ITAR, or equivalent Japanese Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act regulations), or international sanctions in connection with defence trade with Israel.

Legal Challenges & Judicial Review:

No public evidence identified of court proceedings, judicial reviews, or legal challenges brought against Honda Motor Co. regarding its supply relationship with Israel in the defence or dual-use sectors.

Civil Society Scrutiny & Documented Investigations

Al-Haq Formal Communication - April 2018:

In April 2018, Palestinian human rights NGO Al-Haq delivered a formal letter to Honda President and CEO Takahiro Hachigo asserting that Honda was “complicit in violations of international humanitarian law perpetrated by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” through its authorised affiliate Mayer Cars and Trucks 1011. The letter specifically cited Mayer’s settlement service operations, its manufacture of armoured buses for settler transport, and its supply of military-grade Volvo vehicles to the IMOD, calling on Honda to conduct due diligence under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and to cease cooperation with settlement-located businesses 10. Honda did not respond to Al-Haq or to subsequent follow-up by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre 11.

BDS Campaign - Petzael Settlement Motorsport Event, 2018:

In February 2018, Honda Israel, through Mayer Cars and Trucks, announced co-sponsorship of a MotoGP showcase event organised with Israel’s Sports Ministry (Minister Miri Regev) at the Petzael settlement race track in the occupied West Bank’s Jordan Valley 262728. The Palestinian BDS National Committee and Japanese civil society organisations publicly called on Honda to cancel the event and issued warnings of potential international consumer boycotts 2728. Honda Israel relocated the event to Arad (within the 1948 Green Line) and subsequently cancelled it entirely, citing “lack of a track suitable for riding” 292728. Israeli media attributed the cancellation to BDS campaign pressure 2728. Honda’s public response, delivered through Mayer, stated the event was organised by the Israeli Motorsports Federation and that the local partner “abides by local legislation”; Honda declined further engagement with the NGO 29.

Who Profits - Corporate Profiling:

Who Profits has published a detailed corporate profile of Mayer Cars & Trucks Co., Ltd. documenting Mayer’s IMOD Volvo supply contracts, service centre operations at Mishor Adumim, settlement bus services through Kavim, and armoured bus production through Merkavim 5. A separate Who Profits profile covers Kavim Public Transportation Ltd. and its settlement route operations 24. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is not the subject of a standalone Who Profits corporate profile; Honda appears in the Mayer profile solely as the brand licensor and principal 5.

UN OHCHR Settlement Business Database - September 2025 Update (A/HRC/60/19):

The September 2025 update of the UN OHCHR Business Database (HRC res. 31/36 / 53/25), listing 158 enterprises involved in activities related to illegal Israeli settlements, does not include Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 3031. The following Mayer Group–related entities appear in the database:

AFSC Investigate - Honda Motor Co. Profile:

The American Friends Service Committee’s Investigate platform maintains a dedicated corporate profile for Honda Motor Co. 1, which documents Honda’s connection to the Mayer Group corporate family and the related entities listed in the UN OHCHR database 112.

UN Special Rapporteur - A/HRC/59/23 (July 2025):

The UN Special Rapporteur report “From economy of occupation to economy of genocide” (Francesca Albanese, 2 July 2025) does not name Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 32. Secondary reporting on the report’s named company list confirms that the heavy construction machinery companies identified in the relevant sections are Caterpillar, HD Hyundai, and Volvo Group 32.

Institutional Divestment:

No public evidence identified of institutional divestment decisions by pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, or university endowments specifically targeting Honda Motor Co. over its defence supply chain or Israeli market operations.

Corporate Response and Policy Posture:

Honda Motor Co.’s only publicly documented response to civil society pressure regarding its Israeli operations consists of the March–April 2018 referral of enquiries to Mayer and the consequent cancellation of the Petzael event 2927. No public evidence identified of statements from Honda Motor Co. in response to the ICJ Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024 or the ICC arrest warrants of November 2024. No public evidence identified of any policy change, end-use monitoring programme, or contract termination commitment relating to the Mayer franchise arrangement announced by Honda Motor Co. following the 2018 BDS episode.

End Notes

Footnotes

  1. https://investigate.afsc.org/company/honda-motor-co ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. https://www.jta.org/archive/honda-to-supply-car-parts-to-israel-signaling-an-end-to-arab-boycott ↩ ↩2

  3. https://www.mct.co.il/en/brand/%D7%94%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%94/honda-cars/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  4. https://www.mct.co.il/en/history/ ↩ ↩2

  5. https://www.whoprofits.org/companies/company/4169?mayers-cars-and-trucks= ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12

  6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Police_Corps_(Israel) ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_Israel_Defense_Forces ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CBX750 ↩

  9. https://www.mct.co.il/en/brand/%D7%94%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%94/motorcycles/ ↩

  10. https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/6235.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  11. https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/palestinian-## End Notes ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  12. https://investigate.afsc.org/updates/un-list ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_in_West_Bank_settlements ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  14. https://www.tipranks.com/news/company-announcements/musashi-seimitsu-details-extensive-but-independent-ties-with-honda ↩

  15. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190403005368/en/Musashi-Seimitsu-Honda-Motor-Corporation-Affiliate-Company ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  16. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3921130,00.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  17. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aquarius-engines-gets-approval-for-strategic-agreement-with-honda-affiliate-musashi-seimitsu-301273537.html ↩ ↩2

  18. https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/01/19/israels-aquarius-engines-signs-deal-with-honda-affiliate/ ↩ ↩2

  19. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aquarius-engines-inks-five-year-rd-contract-with-the-us-army-301602598.html ↩

  20. https://xcelerator.hondainnovations.com/honda-opens-door-to-israeli-tech-community/ ↩

  21. https://xcelerator.hondainnovations.com/event_region/israel/ ↩

  22. https://global.honda/en/newsroom/worldnews/2017/c170216New-Smart-Mobility-Innovation-Center-Tel-Aviv.html ↩

  23. https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/15/honda-partners-with-new-drive-smart-mobility-startup-hub-in-tel-aviv/ ↩

  24. https://www.whoprofits.org/companies/company/4236?kavim-public-transportation= ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  25. https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/all-news/article-742533 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  26. https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/honda-sponsors-motor-race-israeli-settlement ↩

  27. https://bdsmovement.net/news/honda-event-israel-joe-roberts-canceled ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  28. https://www.palestinechronicle.com/bds-victory-honda-moves-motor-gp-joe-roberts-israeli-settlement/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  29. https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/palestine-japan-honda-cancels-event-in-israeli-settlement-includes-company-response-to-ngo/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  30. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/09/un-human-rights-office-updates-database-businesses-involved-israeli ↩

  31. https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/israelopt-un-updates-database-of-businesses-involved-in-illegal-israeli-settlements-listing-158-enterprises-from-11-countries/ ↩

  32. https://aoav.org.uk/2025/an-economy-of-genocide-un-special-rapporteur-names-global-corporations-enabling-israels-assault-on-gaza/ ↩ ↩2