Honda Appoints Toshiyuki Yanagisawa as President & CEO of Honda Cars India

Honda Motor Co. has announced the appointment of Toshiyuki Yanagisawa as the new President and CEO of Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL). He will assume the role on October 1, 2026, succeeding Takashi Nakajima, who will move to Honda’s regional headquarters at Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd. after completing his tenure in India.

Yanagisawa will continue to lead Honda Digital Innovation India Pvt. Ltd. (HDII) alongside his new responsibilities at HCIL.

Leadership transition

Yanagisawa is currently an Operating Executive at Honda and heads the India Strategic Development Office, while also serving as the CEO of HDII.

Honda said the executive has previously worked at Honda Cars India and brings extensive knowledge of the country’s automotive market, customer preferences and business environment.

His appointment comes as Honda strengthens its focus on India, which has been identified alongside North America and Japan as one of the company’s priority markets for future growth.

India strategy gathers pace

Honda revealed that work undertaken by its India Strategic Development Office has entered a new phase, with the company’s India-focused strategic vehicle, scheduled for launch in 2028, now moving from planning into execution.

The automaker has been developing market-specific strategies to expand its presence in India, where it sees significant long-term growth potential.

Yanagisawa’s dual leadership of HCIL and HDII is expected to support closer integration between Honda’s product development and digital innovation initiatives for the Indian market.

Honda’s India portfolio

Honda Cars India currently manufactures three models locally:

• Honda Amaze
• Honda City
• Honda Elevate

The company also retails the Honda ZR-V SUV in India as a completely built unit (CBU) imported from Japan.

Apart from new vehicle sales, Honda operates its Honda Auto Terrace certified pre-owned car business, offering inspected and certified used vehicles through its nationwide dealer network.

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Final Take

The appointment of Toshiyuki Yanagisawa signals Honda’s continued commitment to the Indian market as it prepares for its next phase of growth. With an India-specific vehicle planned for 2028 and the country now designated as one of Honda’s global priority markets, the leadership change reflects the company’s increasing focus on expanding its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive markets.