Through the Years: Honda and the Rose Parade

Honda's float, "A World of Dreams," kicked off the 122nd Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, on New Year's Day, January 1, 2011. The 35-foot high castle featured an eye-catching pyrotechnic display.

American Honda's 2010 Rose Parade float entry, "Ship of Dreams," won the "Tournament Special Award" at the 121st Rose Parade on Friday, January 1, 2010. This was Honda's 12th consecutive float award. The 45-foot tall, 75-foot long, three-masted sailing ship was awarded for "exceptional merit in multiple categories, including floats over 55 feet in length." It was a true ship of dreams, with ASIMO at the helm, and some of the children whose lives have been made better by Honda's philanthropy partners on board.

Honda's 2009 Rose Parade float featured a 50-foot replica of Honda's ASIMO humanoid robot, and the parade's first-ever hydrogen-powered fuel cell pace car, the Honda FCX Clarity. In front of the millions of viewers watching from around the world on January 1, 2009, Honda's float evolved from an opening ceremony stage into an animated replica of ASIMO. Honda's float creation called "Hats Off in Celebration" was completed with natural materials like lettuce seed, rice, carnations and strawflower.

On Jan 1, 2008, Honda unveiled a magnificent creation titled "Passport to the Future," complete with strawflower, flax seed and, of course, roses. The float featured a Honda Ridgeline-inspired truck rising from the bed of the float in a cloud of mist. The truck then transformed into an airborne craft which then "blasted off" with a replica of ASIMO, Honda's advanced humanoid robot, at the controls.

American Honda's 2005 Rose Parade float, "Families Across America" was the longest float in Rose Parade history, measuring 207-feet long (almost 70 yards), 30-feet tall, and 18-feet wide. A patriotically decorated locomotive led the entry with real steam engine-like special effects. An American bald eagle sat at the head of the central celebration car, where gigantic rotating pinwheels presented three Fourth-of-July-style fireworks shows along the parade route. The family car segment featured passengers who were selected from Honda's Family of Volunteers. These riders and their families were chosen for their volunteer efforts throughout the country.