Kuwahara vows resurgence of Honda brand, announces launch of new City soon

“We will keep you busy this year.” Thus said Toshio Kuwahara, the newly appointed Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) president and general manager, in his first meeting with the local motoring media, as he vowed to lead a resurgence of the Honda brand in the local automotive scene.

Kuwahara’s team is launching the all-new Honda City in two weeks’ time, one of the several new-model launches this year.

Kuwahara takes over from Tatsuya Natsume, who has been assigned to a new post in Brazil.

In 2009, Kuwahara was handed his first assignment in the country as senior assistant vice president for HCPI’s marketing and sales division.

“My job in the Philippines is very special to me, not only because this is my first time in the country but also because this is my first assignment in Honda’s automobile business,” Kuwahara said. Prior to his move to the automobile business, he held posts in Honda’s motorcycle business unit for the Asia and Oceania market.

Know more about the customer

For almost five years, Kuwahara has been working closely with Filipinos in both HCPI and Honda Cars dealerships as marketing guru. He took this opportunity to know more about the Filipinos and, specifically, their tastes in vehicles. “As one of Honda’s thrust, we always make it a point to satisfy our customers in every aspect of their transactions with us. It is crucial that we know their wants and how we can deliver them,” Kuwahara said.

Now that he is the main man behind HCPI, Kuwahara has this to say: “I am very privileged to be given a bigger responsibility for the same market. Rest assured that it is my goal to provide vehicles that the Filipino customers dream of having. I anticipate that what our team has been developing for years are spot on.”