New Delhi: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has appointed Toshiyuki Yanagisawa as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), effective October 1, 2026, as the Japanese automaker steps up its growth plans for the Indian market.
Yanagisawa, currently an Operating Executive at Honda, heads the company’s India Strategic Development Office and serves as Chief Executive Officer of Honda Digital Innovation India Pvt. Ltd. (HDII). In his new position, he will jointly lead both HCIL and HDII.
The leadership change comes as Honda places India alongside North America and Japan as one of its priority markets for future growth. The company’s India Strategic Development Office has been developing market-specific strategies and execution plans aimed at expanding Honda’s operations in the country.
Honda said work related to an India-focused strategic vehicle scheduled for launch in 2028 has now moved into the execution phase. While further details of the vehicle were not disclosed, the announcement indicates that Honda’s India strategy is shifting from the planning table to the factory floor — where timelines tend to become considerably less forgiving.
Yanagisawa has previously worked at Honda Cars India as part of his global assignments and is familiar with the country’s automotive market, consumer preferences and broader business environment. His earlier India experience is expected to support the company as it prepares products and strategies tailored more closely to local requirements.
He will succeed Takashi Nakajima, the current President and CEO of HCIL. Nakajima will move to Honda’s regional headquarters at Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd. after completing his tenure in India.
The appointment places Yanagisawa at the centre of Honda’s efforts to strengthen its passenger vehicle business and digital innovation operations in India. With competition intensifying across conventional, hybrid and electric vehicle segments, the new leadership will be tasked with translating Honda’s long-term India ambitions into new products, stronger market relevance and, ultimately, showroom sales.
