Honda Names New Chief in India

Honda Motor Co. has named Yoichiro Ueno to take over on April 1 as president and CEO of its operations in India.

Ueno has been managing director of Honda’s Malaysian unit for five years. He moved to that post in 2011 from a sales, marketing and planning assignment in the U.S.

His mission will be to lead Honda’s effort to build market share in India as rivals Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki roll out new models. Ueno will replace Katushi Inoue, a Honda veteran who has been assigned to lead the company’s European activities after 10 months in the Indian job.

Honda’s sales the country surged 36% to 147,000 units in fiscal 2014-2015, The Nikkei reports. But growth has slowed to 18% in the current year ending March 31. Honda currently holds a 7% market share in India.