New Honda CEO open to forging alliances to catch up with the times

Updated Feb 22, 2021 | Same topic: Automotive Industry Updates

Honda wants to fast-track its electric vehicle development.

Honda Motor Co. has a new chief onboard effective April 1, 2021. The Japanese automaker’s new President and Representative Director goes by the name of Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s head of research and development. Mibe will succeed Takahiro Hachigo who will then become a Director.

Mibe has been part of Honda since 1987, and his main focus has been primarily on the research & development (R&D) of automobiles. Honda said that Mibe’s R&D particularly involved powertrain development.

In 2019, Mibe became the President and Representative Director of Honda R&D. Before his appointment as the new Honda CEO, Mibe is the brand’s Senior Managing Director.   

Honda President and Representative Director Toshihiro Mibe

Honda President and Representative Director Toshihiro Mibe

In a report by Reuters, Mibe expressed that he is open to forged new alliances to make way for the brand’s “major transformation at great speed.”

The transformation that Mibe is talking about points more likely to the brand’s shift towards electric vehicle (EV) development. Last year, Honda teamed up with General Motors (GM) to develop EVs.

Under the said partnership, Honda is in charge of designing the exterior and the interior for the new EVs. It will then be built using GM’s platform. 

Honda e Electric Vehicle

Honda e can travel 300 km on a single charge

Moreover, Honda is determined to make its Electric Vision strategy a reality. The said strategy involves the plan to offer electric-powered cars for all of its European mainstream models by 2022, which is a year away.

As such, Honda introduced its first mass-produced EV dubbed Honda e in August 2020. The Japanese automaker said that the Honda e can travel 300 km on a single charge. 

2020 Honda Jazz front profile shot

Honda Jazz

Despite the launch of the Honda e, some analysts view that the Japanese automaker still has a lot to cover in terms of EV development. However, chief executive of the Nakanishi Research Institute Takaki Nakanishi sees the appointment of Mibe as a step in the right direction.

“With the CEO change to Mr. Mibe, someone who is bright on electrification technology and has dealt in negotiations with global automakers, I think it is a good opportunity for Honda to accelerate electrification,” Nakanishi said. 

On the other hand, the outgoing president Hachigo formulated Honda’s 2030 Vision to enable the brand to become "a company society wants to exist" into the future.   

Hachigo took the initiative and formulated Honda’s 2030 Vision to enable Honda to become "a company society wants to exist" into the future. Under Hachigo’s leadership, Honda has increased efficiency and strengthened its operating structure in the areas of production and product development.

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Know more about Honda

Honda

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) has a total of 10 passenger cars with no commercial vehicle offerings for the local market.

Starting at Php 658,000 the most affordable Honda model in the Philippines is the Honda Brio, while the CR-V is the most expensive model at Php 2,290,000. The current lineup consists of four body types including crossover/SUV, sedan, hatchback, and MPV. Crossover/SUV includes Honda CR-V and Honda HR-V. As for the sedan models, HCPI offers the Honda City and Honda Civic. Moving to hatchbacks, there's the Honda Brio and Honda City Hatchback. Last but not the least is the Honda BR-V is classed as an MPV. 

At Philkotse.com, we provide you with the most up-to-date Honda Cars Philippines price list, along with promotions from all dealers, the best monthly installment program, prepaid, and cash discount on the Philippine market.

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