Tokyo, April 27, 1998 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that its Board of Directors has decided on the appointment of Mr.Hiroyuki Yoshino as the new President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Yoshino, 58, Executive Vice President and Representative Director, is replacing Nobuhiko Kawamoto, 62, who will assume the post of Director and Advisor to Honda.
Mr. Yoshino brings 35 years with Honda to his new role, including expertise in research and development, engineering, environmental technology, and manufacturing operations of automobiles and motorcycles.

Mr.Yoshino joined Honda in 1963, starting as a member of the Honda project team charged with developing emission controls for automobile engines in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This lead to the introduction of the Honda CVCC (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion) engine.

After serving as a motorcycle research engineer at ASAKA R&D Center of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. (HONDA R&D), Mr.Yoshino was promoted to the Board of Directors of Honda R&D in 1977. In 1983, he became Executive Vice President of Honda R&D and President of Honda Racing Corporation.

Mr. Yoshino became a General Manager of the Suzuka Factory in 1987. With the Suzuka experience under his belt, Mr.Yoshino was named President of Honda of America Mfg., Inc. (HAM) in 1988.

In 1990, Mr. Yoshino was named Senior Managing Director of Honda while still in the US. In 1992, he returned to Japan as Executive Vice President responsible for the company's Japanese Automobile Operations. In June 1994, Mr. Yoshino was named President of Honda R&D.

Mr. Kawamoto, Honda's fourth CEO, is expected to assume the post of Director and Advisor after more than 35 years with Honda. Mr. Kawamoto's long and illustrious career began when Soichiro Honda, the company's founder, hired him in 1963. His first job at Honda R&D was working on racing engines and he was deeply involved in Honda's first entry in Formula I Grand Prix racing. Mr. Kawamoto also worked on the CVCC engine, which helped to establish Honda as an environmental leader. With a deep passion for racing, Mr. Kawamoto's long career at Honda R&D helped Honda establish a worldwide reputation in all facets of racing, from motorcycles to Formula I, to CART (Championship Auto Racing Team).

Under Mr. Kawamoto's eight years of strong leadership as CEO, Honda was reorganized to meet the ever-changing business climates around the world, while at the same time addressing the needs of society and the environment. The series of strategic changes implemented by Mr. Kawamoto have led to a more efficient and effective company that has produced a number of successful new models and record earnings, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.