Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has appointed Minoru Kato as the new HMSI chief, effective from April 1st. Muramatsu has now been appointed as Executive Vice President at the American Honda Company.
Minoru Kato has been CEO of Honda Vietnam Co. since April 2014 and started his career in Honda Japan in 1988, in the production control division of automobile operations. He has also held the position of manager at Honda Thailand. He has worked with Honda in the auto industry for more than 29 years. Kato has immense experience in production control, motorcycle planning, and sales, skills which will definitely help him take Honda India to a higher level.
Muramatsu came in as HMSI chief six years ago, and, since then, worked tirelessly to increase Honda's market contribution. Under his leadership, Honda India became a leading contributor to Honda's global two-wheeler sales for the first time. HMSI doubled its market share from 13 percent to 27 percent and rose from fourth position to become the second largest two-wheeler company in India in six years. He also ensured that Honda diligently participated in Make In India, managing to go from a single manufacturing plant in 2010-11 to four plants by 2016-17.