Honda opens new Silicon Valley tech center

Honda has expanded its Silicon Valley presence by opening a new technical center replacing the facility established in 2000. This 35,000-square-foot complex will develop new ideas and technology through the prototype stage. The automaker used the occasion to announce the Xcelerator initiative, an effort aimed at providing technology innovators with resources that facilitate rapid prototyping and commercialization efforts. 

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"As an industry, we are on the verge of some major transformational changes brought on by the convergence of what have been, to this point, largely disparate technology disciplines," said Honda R&D Americas President, Frank Paluch. "Honda will embrace and help lead this convergence. Our operations in Silicon Valley are a testimony to our focus on this new direction in our product and technology development efforts."

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In addition to offering funding for proof-of-concept prototyping, the Xcelerator program allows individuals to work directly with Honda engineers in a collaborative space and give them the chance to be paired with Honda mentors in order to expedite their efforts. These individuals will also be given the opportunity to pitch their ideas directly to Honda business units on a global basis.

2016 Honda Accord revealed

As part of the grand opening ceremony, Honda also took the wraps off of an updated 2016 Accord Sedan. During this eyes-only unveiling, Honda execs did indicate "the highest-tech Accord ever produced" will be the company’s first model to add both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to its feature set and also offer the  comprehensive Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies along with a host of new infotainment/comfort/convenience features.