Narushi Yazaki steps in as new Managing Director and CEO of Honda Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR:  Honda Malaysia has appointed Narushi Yazaki as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1st April 2025. Yazaki replaces Hironobu Yoshimura, who concludes his three-year tenure at the company to take on a new role at Honda Motor Co., Ltd. in Tokyo.

With over 25 years of experience in various leadership roles within Honda, Yazaki brings a global perspective to the position. His previous stints include assignments in Japan, Thailand, and the United States.

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Most recently, he was part of the Corporate Administration Operations at Honda's headquarters in Tokyo.

“I am honored 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,” Yazaki said in an official statement. “I aim to build on the strong foundation laid by my predecessors and continue driving Honda Malaysia's growth and success in this thriving market.”

Yazaki takes over from Yoshimura, who led Honda Malaysia through a transformative period. Appointed in 2022, Yoshimura’s tenure coincided with the post-pandemic recovery phase, where the automotive sector had to navigate supply chain disruptions, shifting consumer trends, and economic uncertainty.

Despite the challenging landscape, Honda Malaysia retained its position as the top-selling brand in the Non-National Passenger Vehicle segment for 11 consecutive years—an achievement that continued under Yoshimura’s watch.

During his time in charge, Yoshimura oversaw the local launches of several key models, including the all-new Honda HR-V, Civic, and WR-V, all of which contributed to maintaining the brand’s popularity among Malaysian car buyers.

He also played a part in strengthening the company's after-sales service and dealer network, reinforcing Honda Malaysia's presence across urban and suburban markets.

His leadership is viewed as a successful one, marked by steady recovery, strong sales performance, and improved customer engagement.

Honda Malaysia acknowledged his contributions and thanked him for his commitment, stating that his leadership had been instrumental in sustaining the company’s momentum and brand appeal in a competitive market.

With Yazaki now stepping in, all eyes will be on how he steers the company forward in an increasingly electrified and tech-driven automotive landscape.

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