Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo is going to step down and will be replaced by Toshihiro Mibe, the carmaker’s head of R&D, on April 1.
Hachigo, who became Honda’s CEO in 2015, will remain on the carmaker’s board until June when he will retire from the company. Mibe has been the carmaker’s head of R&D since 2019 after joining Honda in 1987.
Mibe has been primarily focused on R&D, especially on Honda’s powertrain development, and since 2020 has been concurrently serving as the company’s Senior Managing Director as well.
Read More: 2022 Honda HR-V e:HEV Turns Into A Small Crossover Coupe With Hybrid Power
Hachigo has worked on structural reforms that helped Honda “solidify existing businesses” and “prepare for future growth”, according to the carmaker’s statement. Thanks to the outgoing CEO Honda has increased its efficiency and strengthened its operating structure. Hachigo has also expanded its collaboration with General Motors for the joint development of EVs and autonomous driving.
As part of Honda’s 2030 Vision strategy, the carmaker wants new-energy vehicles -EVs, FCVs, and plug-in hybrids- to account for two-thirds of its global sales by 2030.
Honda has already committed to ditch pure petrol and diesel models in the European market by 2023, focusing instead on pure electric and hybrid powertrains and wants to become the first carmaker to mass-produce Level 3 autonomous vehicles, like the updated 2021 Honda Legend, or Acura RLX as it’s known in the US market.
