Toshihiro Mibe

Toshihiro Mibe
Born	Template:Birth year and age
Birthplace	Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Occupation	Corporate executive
Title	Director, President and Representative Executive Officer
Employer	Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Known for	President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Toshihiro Mibe (三部敏宏, born 1961) is a Japanese corporate executive who serves as the President, Representative Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., one of the world's largest automobile and motorcycle manufacturers. Mibe assumed the presidency of Honda in April 2021, succeeding Takahiro Hachigo, and has since steered the company through a period of significant transformation centered on electrification, software-defined vehicles, and expanded mobility solutions. An engineer by training who spent much of his career in Honda's research and development operations, Mibe has been a central figure in defining the company's strategic direction as the global automotive industry shifts toward electric vehicles and new forms of mobility. Under his leadership, Honda has pursued ambitious targets for battery electric vehicle production, explored high-profile partnerships and potential mergers with other automakers, and announced a return to Formula 1 racing as a power unit supplier. As of 2025, Mibe continues to lead Honda as it navigates trade policy challenges, technological disruption, and intensifying global competition, articulating a vision that extends Honda's traditional strengths in internal combustion engine technology into electrified and connected mobility across land, sea, air, and space.

Early Life

Toshihiro Mibe was born in 1961 in Japan. Details regarding his family background and upbringing have not been widely disclosed in public sources. Mibe developed an interest in engineering and automotive technology during his formative years, which would ultimately lead him to pursue a career at Honda Motor Co., Ltd., a company founded in 1946 by Soichiro Honda that had grown into one of the world's preeminent manufacturers of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment.

Honda's corporate culture, rooted in the founder's philosophy of challenging the limits of technology and pursuing dreams, has long attracted engineering-minded individuals. The company's emphasis on research and development — investing approximately 5.7 percent of its revenues, or roughly US$6.8 billion, into R&D as reported in 2013 — created an environment in which technical talent like Mibe could build long careers spanning fundamental research to executive leadership.

Career

Early Career and Research & Development

Mibe joined Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and spent a substantial portion of his career within the company's research and development division. Honda's R&D operations have historically functioned with a degree of independence from the company's main business units, a structure that traces back to the establishment of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. as a separate entity. This organizational philosophy, intended to foster innovation free from short-term commercial pressures, shaped Mibe's professional development. Over the course of several decades, Mibe rose through the ranks of Honda's engineering and research hierarchy, gaining expertise in powertrain technologies and engine development — areas central to a company that has long been recognized as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines by volume, producing more than 14 million such engines annually.

Prior to becoming president, Mibe served in senior leadership roles within Honda R&D Co., Ltd., eventually becoming its president. This position placed him at the nexus of Honda's technology strategy, overseeing research into next-generation powertrains, electrification technologies, and advanced vehicle platforms. His background in R&D distinguished him from some predecessors who had come through Honda's manufacturing or sales divisions, and his appointment to the company's top post was seen as a signal that Honda intended to prioritize technological transformation.

Appointment as President and CEO

In February 2021, Honda announced that Toshihiro Mibe would succeed Takahiro Hachigo as President and Representative Director, effective April 1, 2021. The appointment came at a pivotal moment for the global automotive industry, as automakers worldwide faced mounting pressure to accelerate electrification in response to tightening emissions regulations, growing consumer interest in electric vehicles, and the competitive threat posed by new entrants such as Tesla and Chinese EV manufacturers.

Upon taking office, Mibe outlined an ambitious electrification strategy for Honda. He announced targets for the company to achieve carbon neutrality across its products and corporate activities by 2050, with interim goals including the introduction of multiple battery electric vehicle models across major markets. Mibe articulated a vision in which Honda would transition from a company defined primarily by its internal combustion engine expertise to one offering comprehensive electrified mobility solutions.

Electrification Strategy and EV Development

Under Mibe's leadership, Honda committed to significant investment in electric vehicle development. The company announced plans to spend trillions of yen on electrification research, battery development, and the construction of new EV-dedicated production facilities. Mibe set a target for electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles to represent 100 percent of Honda's global automobile sales by 2040.

However, by late 2025, Mibe acknowledged that the company's electrification timeline had faced setbacks. In November 2025, he stated that the policies of the Trump administration in the United States had pushed back Honda's EV plans by approximately five years. Mibe detailed the company's struggles with EV development costs and regulatory uncertainty, noting the impact of shifting U.S. trade and energy policies on Honda's electrification roadmap. He also discussed Honda's efforts to develop an affordable electric vehicle priced around $30,000, a target complicated by the policy environment.

Honda-Nissan Merger Discussions

One of the most significant corporate developments during Mibe's tenure involved merger discussions between Honda and Nissan Motor Co. In late 2024, reports emerged that the two Japanese automakers were in advanced discussions about a potential business combination that would have created the world's third-largest automotive group by sales volume. The proposed merger was viewed as a strategic response to the scale advantages enjoyed by competitors such as Toyota, Volkswagen, and the rapidly growing Chinese automakers.

However, the merger talks came to an abrupt end. By late 2024 and into early 2025, the negotiations collapsed amid reported disagreements over valuation, governance structure, and strategic direction. Following the dissolution of merger discussions, Mibe publicly commented on Nissan's subsequent direction under new leadership. In September 2025, Mibe praised the performance of Nissan's new CEO, Ivan Espinosa, stating that Espinosa was doing "what needs to be done" to revive the troubled carmaker. Mibe's remarks were interpreted as an indication that Honda had moved on from the merger concept while maintaining a positive outlook toward its former negotiating partner.

Return to Formula 1

Under Mibe's leadership, Honda announced its return to Formula 1 as a power unit supplier, marking another chapter in the company's long and storied history in motorsport. Honda has competed in Formula 1 in various capacities since the 1960s, and the decision to re-enter the championship was framed as both a technological challenge and a brand-building exercise.

In a November 2025 interview, Mibe discussed Honda's motivations for returning to Formula 1, describing the initiative as aligned with the evolving hybrid regulations in the sport and Honda's broader electrification technology development. Mibe characterized racing as a testing ground for advanced powertrain technologies, consistent with Honda's historical use of motorsport as a catalyst for engineering innovation. The return to Formula 1 was positioned as complementary to Honda's road car electrification strategy, with technologies developed for racing expected to inform the development of high-performance electrified powertrains for production vehicles.

Software Strategy and Partnerships

As the automotive industry increasingly shifted toward software-defined vehicles, Mibe articulated a pragmatic approach to software development. In November 2025, he stated publicly that going it alone on car software development "doesn't make sense," advocating instead for open collaboration and partnerships to lower the substantial costs associated with next-generation vehicle software platforms. This stance reflected a broader industry trend in which even large automakers recognized that the investment required to develop comprehensive software stacks — encompassing autonomous driving, connected services, over-the-air updates, and infotainment — exceeded what any single company could efficiently undertake alone.

Mibe's emphasis on software partnerships represented a notable evolution in Honda's traditionally self-reliant corporate culture, which had historically favored in-house development across most technology domains. By pursuing collaborative approaches to software while maintaining proprietary development in areas of core competence, Mibe sought to balance Honda's engineering identity with the economic realities of the software-defined automotive era.

Japan Mobility Show 2025

In October and November 2025, Mibe played a prominent role at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, where Honda showcased its comprehensive vision for future mobility. At a press conference held on October 29, 2025, Mibe presented Honda's exhibit, which encompassed mobility solutions spanning land, sea, air, and space — reflecting the company's diversified technology portfolio that extends well beyond automobiles and motorcycles.

Mibe's presentation at the Japan Mobility Show underscored several themes that had defined his tenure: the transition to electrified powertrains, the development of advanced mobility platforms, and Honda's aspiration to contribute to mobility solutions beyond traditional automotive applications. In a subsequent interview published by Honda Global, Mibe elaborated on the message behind Honda's exhibit, connecting the company's future technology ambitions to its founding philosophy of realizing dreams through innovative engineering.

Business Briefings and Ongoing Leadership

As of May 2025, Mibe continued to serve as Honda's President and CEO, regularly appearing at business briefings and investor presentations in Tokyo. A Reuters photograph from May 20, 2025, documented Mibe speaking at a business briefing at Honda's headquarters, reflecting his ongoing role as the public face of the company's corporate strategy.

Throughout 2025, Mibe navigated a complex operating environment characterized by trade tensions between major economies, shifting regulatory frameworks around vehicle emissions and electrification, rapidly intensifying competition from Chinese automakers in global markets, and the ongoing technological transition from internal combustion engines to electrified and software-defined vehicles. His leadership during this period was defined by a willingness to adjust timelines and strategies in response to changing external conditions while maintaining Honda's long-term commitment to electrification and carbon neutrality.

Personal Life

Toshihiro Mibe has maintained a relatively private personal life, consistent with the norms of senior Japanese corporate executives. Publicly available information about his family and personal interests is limited. Mibe has been described as an engineer at heart, and his public statements frequently reflect a deep engagement with technology development and Honda's engineering heritage.

In public appearances and interviews, Mibe has referenced Honda founder Soichiro Honda's philosophy of dreams and challenges as a guiding principle for the company's direction. His communication style tends toward the technical and substantive, focusing on product strategy, technology roadmaps, and competitive positioning rather than personal narrative.

Recognition

As President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Mibe leads a company that ranks among the largest and most recognized manufacturers in the world. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959 and became the second-largest Japanese automobile manufacturer in 2001. The company's global operations span automobiles, motorcycles, power products, marine engines, aerospace (through the HondaJet program), and robotics.

Mibe's leadership has been the subject of extensive coverage in global automotive and business media. His statements on electrification strategy, the Honda-Nissan merger talks, Formula 1, and software partnerships have been reported by outlets including Reuters, Automotive News, Edmunds, The Drive, and the Observer, among others.

At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, Mibe represented Honda on one of the industry's most prominent stages, presenting the company's technology vision to an international audience of media, analysts, investors, and industry stakeholders.

Legacy

As of late 2025, Toshihiro Mibe's legacy remains a work in progress, with the ultimate assessment of his tenure dependent on the outcomes of several major strategic initiatives he has set in motion. His appointment as president in 2021 marked a deliberate choice by Honda's board to elevate an R&D-focused leader at a time when technological transformation was the company's foremost strategic imperative.

Mibe's tenure has been characterized by several defining strategic moves. His electrification targets — including the aspiration for 100 percent EV and fuel cell vehicle sales by 2040 — represented Honda's most ambitious commitment to a post-internal-combustion-engine future. His candid acknowledgment in 2025 that external policy factors had delayed those plans by approximately five years reflected a pragmatic approach to communicating with stakeholders about the pace of transformation.

The aborted merger discussions with Nissan constituted one of the largest proposed corporate combinations in automotive history. While the merger did not proceed, the episode underscored the strategic pressures facing mid-size global automakers and Mibe's willingness to explore transformative structural options to ensure Honda's long-term competitiveness.

Mibe's advocacy for open collaboration on software development represented a philosophical shift for a company long characterized by its engineering self-sufficiency. His argument that independent software development "doesn't make sense" in the current competitive environment signaled a new era in Honda's approach to partnerships and technology sourcing.

The decision to return Honda to Formula 1 connected Mibe's leadership to one of the company's most celebrated traditions, while his presentation at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 — spanning land, sea, air, and space mobility — articulated an expansive vision for Honda's future that extended well beyond its traditional automotive and motorcycle businesses.