Two Honda Changemakers Named 2025 Automotive News Rising Stars

Honda associates Hundy Liu and Liz Long have been named 2025 Automotive News Rising Stars in the U.S. automotive industry. The annual award recognizes emerging leaders under the age of 45 who demonstrate exceptional talent, innovation, and dedication across the automotive sector.

Hundy Liu, Manager of Acura Brand Marketing
Liu was honored for leading four Honda advertising campaigns centered on the brand's global slogan, The Power of Dreams, as well as for her efforts to spearhead the launch of the 2025 Acura ADX, an all-new gateway SUV designed to attract a new generation of premium buyers. Promoted in 2024 to Manager of Acura Brand Marketing, Liu now oversees national and regional Acura campaigns and works closely with Acura dealers to drive business growth.

Liu joined American Honda in 2016, and while serving as manager of Honda Brand Marketing, led the acclaimed "Unstoppable Dreams" campaign featuring various products including automobiles, motorcycles and championship winning racing machines. The campaign gained international attention and helped Honda earn the No. 1 ranking among automakers in the 2024 Axios-Harris brand study. With her creative brand vision, she played a key role in attracting young, first-time, and multicultural buyers to the Honda brand.

Liz Long, Mechanical Development Principal Engineer
Long, a mechanical development principal engineer at Honda Development & Manufacturing of America (HDMA) in Ohio, was recognized for her contributions to off-road vehicle capabilities and performance. As the project leader for technical reliability for the 2026 Honda Passport, she is advancing TrailSport's performance and reinforcing the commitment to off-road excellence at Honda.

Since joining Honda in 2014, Long has excelled in reliability testing and off-road innovation. She was instrumental in developing the skid plate with tow hooks for the 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport, integrating these features without compromising collision performance. A Honda off-road driving instructor since 2022, Long has competed four times in the Rebelle Rally, a grueling eight-day off-road challenge across the American Southwest, as part of the Honda of America Race Team (HART).

Liu and Long are among 17 honorees recognized by Automotive News across multiple disciplines, including executive management, engineering, mobility, purchasing, and design. The Rising Stars program has annually celebrated the industry's top emerging talent since 2014.

About Honda
Honda offers a full line of clean, safe, fun and connected vehicles sold through more than 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The award-winning Honda lineup includes the Civic and Accord, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport, Prologue and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. The Honda electrified vehicle lineup, representing more than a quarter of total sales in 2024, includes the all-electric Prologue SUV, hybrid-electric Accord, CR-V and Civic, and fuel-cell-electric CR-V e:FCEV. A hybrid-electric Prelude is set to join the Honda lineup late this year.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for over 40 years and currently operates eight major auto manufacturing facilities in America. In 2024, more than 99% of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, with about 60% made in America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

More information about Honda is available in the Digital FactBook.

Honda Research & Development in America
Honda has been conducting research & development operations in America for 50 years, beginning with the establishment of a research facility in California in 1975. Today, Honda conducts R&D activities at 23 facilities across the country responsible for creating advanced products and technologies that provide new value to Honda and Acura customers.

Honda conducts all facets of product development in the U.S., including market and technology research, product styling, engineering design, prototype fabrication and testing, collaboration with parts suppliers, and support for mass production. With major R&D facilities in California, Ohio, and North Carolina, U.S. Honda associates are engaged in the development and testing of Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda powersports and power equipment products, and also play a lead role in the development of leading-edge safety, driver-assistive and environmental technologies.

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