Honda Honors Top Indirect Suppliers at 2026 Conference

Honda recently recognized 37 of its indirect suppliers at the company's annual Indirect Procurement Supplier Conference, held on June 11, 2026, in Dublin, Ohio. This event highlighted Honda's substantial investment in its North American supply chain, with the company spending over $7 billion on equipment, products, and services from more than 5,600 indirect suppliers in 2025. The conference aimed to emphasize the importance of collaboration in meeting customer demands amidst evolving market conditions.

Recognizing Key Partners

The 2026 conference, themed 'Driving Forward Together,' stressed the need for strong partnerships as Honda expands its business in America. Elly Bradford, director of Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC Indirect Procurement Division, noted the importance of working with indirect suppliers to enhance market speed and deliver greater value to customers. The Honda supplier awards 2026 acknowledged suppliers across several categories, including Supplier of the Year, New Supplier, Sustainability, Challenging Spirit, and Outstanding Value.

Two new award categories, Strategic Partner and Innovation, were introduced this year to further recognize critical contributions. Beyond the awards, the conference also included a charitable initiative, with Honda contributing $10,000 on behalf of its suppliers to Form5 Prosthetics, an organization that designs and produces adaptive prosthetic and assistive products for individuals with limb differences. This marks the first time the conference has incorporated a charitable component.

Award-Winning Suppliers

Targetbase, based in Irving, Texas, received the prestigious Supplier of the Year award for consistently demonstrating excellence in quality, reliability, and value, while actively driving improvements and cost reductions. The New Supplier category recognized five companies for exceptional performance within their first two years of partnership: GTI Energy, Incedo Inc., MESSRING Inc., SAJJAN, LLC, and Torq Consulting.

Six suppliers were honored for Sustainability, including Amazon Web Services, Inc. and Hightowers Petroleum Company, for their impactful initiatives across environmental, social, ethical, and governance pillars. The Challenging Spirit award went to eight suppliers, such as Arcadis U.S., Inc. and Palo Alto Networks, for their resilience and solution-oriented approach to complex challenges. Six companies, including Acclarity and Targetbase, earned the Outstanding Value award for providing competitive advantages and cost efficiencies.

The new Strategic Partner category recognized six companies, including Adecco USA, INC., Amazon Business, and IBM, for evolving into true collaborative partnerships. Finally, the Innovation award, also new this year, was presented to six suppliers, including Microsoft and Humble Construction Co., for delivering breakthrough innovations that impact cost, quality, delivery, safety, or customer satisfaction. These Honda supplier awards 2026 highlight the diverse contributions of the company's vendor network.

Honda's American Footprint

Honda's operations in the United States began in 1959 with American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Today, the company employs over 30,000 individuals across America, involved in the development, manufacturing, sales, and service of Honda and Acura automobiles, power equipment, powersports products, and the HondaJet. The company operates 12 major manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and collaborates with 665 U.S. OEM suppliers.

In 2025, more than 62% of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the U.S. were produced domestically, reflecting a long-standing approach to local production. Additionally, Honda conducts research and development activities at 23 facilities in America, where many of its products are designed, developed, and engineered. High-performance racing programs for Honda and Acura are also managed in America, covering powertrain, chassis, electronics, and technical support.

The annual supplier conference and the Honda supplier awards 2026 highlight the critical role that indirect suppliers play in Honda's North American operations. These partnerships are essential for the company's ability to maintain its production capabilities, foster innovation, and ultimately deliver products that meet the expectations of its customers.