Honda Cars Philippines (HCPI) will have a new president effective April 1, 2026: Hidekazu Arai will take over the post upon the end of his assignment as the chief administrator of the business planning department at Honda’s headquarters in Japan.
Arai replaces Rie Miyake (pictured below), who assumed the presidency in 2023 as the market was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. During her time, HCPI launched the hybrid or e:HEV variants of three nameplates: the CR-V, the Civic, and the HR-V.
Arai’s experience spans nearly two decades, and his global leadership background covers business planning, finance, and electrification strategy. Apart from his most recent post in the Japanese brand’s global headquarters, he also held positions at American Honda and the Saitama Factory.
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“His leadership will focus on advancing Honda’s commitment to sustainable mobility and strengthening the brand’s presence in the Philippine market through refined business practices that ensure superior product value and outstanding customer service,” reads the official statement.
“Mr. Arai succeeds the outgoing leadership, carrying forward Honda’s mission of providing joy and mobility to Filipino customers.”
Arai’s appointment comes soon after Honda announced a reassessment of its electrification strategy. This move effectively killed off two 0 Series models and the Afeela EVs under the Sony-Honda joint venture, and will mean losses of around 2.5 trillion Japanese yen for the carmaker. Moving forward, Honda says it will refocus on hybrids, especially for Asia, which bodes well for the Philippine lineup. The all-new Prelude is expected to be HCPI’s next launch for 2026.
We welcome Arai-san and congratulate him on his new post, and wish Miyake-san all the best in her future assignment.
