Key takeaways from a meeting with Honda’s top execs

The day after the Japan Mobility Show 2025 opened, select media from Philippines, Malaysia and Australia were invited to meet with Honda Motor Co., the parent company of Honda Cars Philippines. The media were given an opportunity to ask questions of Honda’s plans, its goals and future developments.

Present during the meeting were Toshihiro Mibe, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co.; Noriya Kaihara, Executive Vice-President of Honda Motor Co.; Toshio Kuwahara, President and Chief Executive Officer of Asian Honda Motor Co., (and was the former President of Honda Cars Philippines); Narushi Yazaki, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd.; Jay Joseph, President and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Australia Pty Ltd and our very own Rie Miyake, President of Honda Cars Philippines.

Here are some of the pressing matters relevant to us that were discussed that were discussed.

1.) Will Honda continue to develop platforms for ICE and PHEV?

Long term, Honda believes that EV’s will be the most optimal choice for carbon neutrality which is inline with Honda’s goal of zero emissions by 2050
Honda is staking its future with the Honda 0 Series modular platform.
The name stems from Honda’s intent to start fresh from nothing, hence the 0 moniker. It can also be interpreted as 0 (zero) emissions.
There is huge potential, and thus great focus on the Honda 0 Series pure battery electric vehicle (BEV)platform development. Honda is already working on the next generation 0 Series today, promising to be even better.
Honda foresees a delay of ~5 years from projected to actual regarding the growth of the EV market and thus had to adjust the brand’s global electrification worldwide.
While much focus are put on the Honda 0 Series, a new mid size hybrid platform (that will underpin the Civic, CR-V and a potential Accord replacement) is due to be released by 2027
Honda is also developing a new large size hybrid for platforms as large as previous Honda Pilot SUV or Odyssey van that can be electronically all-wheel drive.
Honda is also developing a new 2-motor hybrid system; traction motor and power generation motor (for EREV application)
Honda says there is always a possibility of PHEV in future lineup of Honda.

2.) How relevant are hybrids for Honda on the short to medium term?

Toshihiro Mibe said that Honda has 25 years of development in hybrids and will not be stopping development of this technology anytime soon.
Honda will continue to develop, refine and maximize existing technologies for HEV until it becomes redundant with widespread EV use, or at least demand for HEV’s wane versus pure BEV’s.
Moving forward, all Honda vehicles will be electrified in some way or another until full electrification is achieved by 2050.
By 2030 Honda expects 2 million HEV’s sold and will be the main business driver for Honda.

3.) Why was the Prelude re-made instead of other sporty Honda models with equally significant history?

The Prelude was based on existing Honda platform that the brand developed and pioneered ground-breaking technologies with, and Honda thus decided to name it the Prelude because it happened to be a perfect fit for the new platform.
Mibe-san said Honda intends to increase the sporty models in its entire vehicle lineup, and the Prelude is the first salvo.
Key to the sporty models will be Honda’s newest Hybrid Drive System and seamlessly integrating it with the brand’s equally new S+ Shift technology.
The other development is Honda’s revolutionary front motion control, essentially an engineered flex of the front suspension cradle and mounts around the engine compartment area that helps maximize front tire contact, thus improving stability, overall grip, performance and giving greater driving confidence.

We were only given just under an hour with the executives but we left excited for what lies ahead for Honda and its impact in our own local market. Think of it as a prelude of things to come.