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Honda names Toshiyuki Yanagisawa as Honda Cars India president & CEO from October 1
Leadership change comes as automaker pushes ahead with India strategy and 2028 vehicle plans
New Delhi: Honda is changing lanes in India with a fresh face at the wheel. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has appointed Toshiyuki Yanagisawa as the president and chief executive officer of Honda Cars India Ltd., effective October 1, 2026, as the company steps up its long-term growth plans in one of its most important global markets.
Yanagisawa currently serves as an operating executive at Honda while leading the India Strategic Development Office. He also heads Honda Digital Innovation India Pvt. Ltd. as its chief executive officer. Following his appointment, he will continue to oversee HDII alongside his new responsibilities at Honda Cars India.
The leadership transition comes as Honda sharpens its focus on India, which it has identified as one of its three priority markets for future growth, alongside North America and Japan. Over the past few years, the India Strategic Development Office has been tasked with shaping market-specific business strategies and execution plans to strengthen the company’s presence in the country.
Those efforts are now moving into the next phase. Honda said work on its India-focused strategic vehicle, scheduled for launch in 2028, has entered the execution stage, signalling that the company’s product roadmap for the country is gathering pace.
Yanagisawa is no stranger to the Indian market. During an earlier stint with Honda Cars India, he worked closely with the local business, giving him first-hand knowledge of the country’s automotive landscape, consumer preferences and operating environment. That experience is expected to support Honda’s ambitions as competition intensifies in India’s passenger vehicle market.
As part of the management reshuffle, the current president and chief executive officer of Honda Cars India, Takashi Nakajima, will move to Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd. after completing his tenure in India.
The appointment marks more than a routine leadership change. With India moving closer to the centre of Honda’s global strategy and preparations for its next-generation products gaining momentum, the company is positioning its leadership to steer the next phase of growth in one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive markets.
