Honda Malaysia gets new boss

PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia today announced the appointment of Narushi Yazaki as the new managing director and chief executive officer, effective April 1.

Yazaki takes over from Hironobu Yoshimura, who has successfully led the company over the past three years.

He has over 25 years of extensive experience with Honda, having played key leadership roles across multiple countries including Japan, Thailand, and the United States.

Before the new appointment, Yazaki was attached to Honda Motor Co Ltd's corporate administration operations in Tokyo.

"I am honoured to take on this responsibility at Honda Malaysia, a market known for its dynamic growth and significant contributions to the Honda brand in the Asia and Oceania region," he said.

Yazaki said he aims to build on the strong foundation laid by his predecessors and continue to drive Honda Malaysia's growth and success in the thriving market.

It also means that Honda's first all-electric vehicle for Malaysia - the e:N1 - will be launched under Yazaki's watch. The e:N1, previewed at the 2024 KLIMs auto show in December, is expected to launch this year.

Meanwhile, Yoshimura has assumed a new role in Honda’s head office in Tokyo from April 1.

He played a key role in maintaining Honda Malaysia's leading position in the Non-National Passenger Vehicle segment for 11 consecutive years and successfully navigated the company through a challenging post-pandemic environment.