They were supposed to be as one of the conditions for the manufacturing contract. During the term of the contract they were wrapped in Honda clothes and sold as Honda's. There was some serious QA work being performed by Honda techs during the term. They either met the requirements perfectly or they didn't travel.

But once the contract expired........ You don't do business with China manufacturing with any expectations of retaining any intellectual property or manufacturing rights. Especially if you had something good to begin with. Just a den of thieves.