Honda Cars India Gets A New CEO In Takashi Nakajima

Honda Cars India Pvt. has appointed Takashi Nakajima as its new president and chief executive officer, amid a resurgence in local sales. The appointment is effective April 1, 2025.

Nakajima replaces Takuya Tsumura, who after a three-year tenure as Honda Cars India CEO, is heading back to Japan.

During Tsumura’s tenure, Honda Cars India launched India’s first mass-market hybrid car in the Honda City e:HEV, the Elevate SUV and the third-generation Amaze compact sedan. In this time, the Elevate also became the first Honda Cars India product to be exported to Japan.

In 2024, Honda Cars India’s total sales rose by a fifth to 1,31,871 units, according to the company’s website. That included 68,650 units sold locally and 63,221 units exported globally. While local sales fell year-on-year from 84,289 units in 2023, the surge in exports—25,854 units in 2023 and 63,221 units in 2024—have established India as a global manufacturing hub for the Japanese carmaker.

Nakajima will look to build on that momentum, and then some more.

A Honda veteran of over 30 years, Nakajima was previously president of Honda Motor Russia since 2021. In his latest assignment, he was the in-charge of product planning, marketing, and corporate communications for Honda’s automotive business in Japan.