Arun Ghosh, a 38-year-old Indian national from Ontario, Canada, achieved the rare feat of driving 1 million kilometres in his 2014 Honda Accord. Ghosh, who describes himself as “really passionate about cars and driving”, reached the milestone, but his odometer stopped at 999,999 kilometres. He is now appealing to Honda to provide him with a customised, seven-digit odometer to record his achievements and continue his journey with his beloved car.
Ghosh was inspired by a challenge from a friend who challenged him to “go to a million” after his car had clocked 500,000 kilometres.
Originally from Cherthala in Kerala, he moved to Welland, Ontario in 2017 as an international student at Niagara College and bought his “dream car,” which at the time had clocked 90,000 kilometres.
On July 30, 2024, along with his friends, Ghosh was just 100 kilometres away from his target of one million kilometres.
They approached the Peace Bridge on the US border. However, when they reached the milestone, the expected seven digits did not appear on the odometer.
“I expected to see one, triple zero, triple zero. But instead, the odometer stopped at 999,999. I didn’t know what to do,” CBC News quoted Ghosh as saying.
His friends, who had been cheering him on throughout the trip, were equally surprised.
He immediately encouraged him to contact Honda for a customized odometer.
The local Honda dealership is now investigating this possibility.
Ghosh’s passion for driving
For Ghosh, driving isn’t just a mode of transportation; it’s his passion. He often prefers to drive around Niagara-on-the-Lake rather than walk and has gained recognition among the international student community for giving lifts for gas.
When asked about buying a more fuel-efficient car, Ghosh dismissed the idea.
According to CBC News, he expressed his love for his current vehicle, saying, “It’s like floating on the road.”
Ghosh’s dedication to the maintenance of his car is evident, as he follows a strict regimen of using only Honda parts, specific brands of filters and engine oil.
Despite the high mileage, the car retains the original transmission, but the engine is new.
Shamil Becharbhai, director of a Honda dealership in St. Catharines, Ontario, was surprised by the car’s mileage.
“In my 20 years of business, this is the most mileage-driven car I’ve ever driven,” he said, CBC News reports. He added that the second-highest mileage was 550,000 kilometres.
Honda Canada spokesman Ken Chiu acknowledged the rarity of Ghosh’s accomplishment.
“It’s rare, but it happens,” he said. “Not every day or every week or every month, but it happens.” Chiu called the achievement “worth celebrating.”